It's always a bummer for some when anything gets remade. It's a double-edged sword for fans of The Office. It's so unique that nothing will be like it. The cast was a great and believable collective. The improvisation caused brilliant awkward moments, especially in the 2nd season.
You'll never have anything like it again, even if someone tries to force it.

Surely you agree that the trans-atlantic conversion from Rising Damp to The Jeffersons was brilliant?

Dave

Sherman Hemsley was no Richard Briers, Dave.

Anyone remember the Fawlty Towers remake with John Larroquette? Or the Americanised Red Dwarf? Ouch, was that bad.

Yeah, I agree that The Office was a one-off brilliant original. The chemistry of that particular cast in that particular setting could never be replicated. There was an awkward reality to the thing that made the funny moments explosive (and made it okay that the entire thing wasn't a laugh riot a la sitcom-land strives for).

I think that Arrested Development represents the best in modern American sitcom(edy). They go for laughs almost every beat, and usually get there with great results.

Eric Berlin
Dumpster Bust: Miracles from Mind Trash

Tom,

This one is up on Advance.net, including at Cleveland.com

Thanks for the post. I'm quite astounded how many things we rip off from England. I shouldn't be, but I am.

- Temple Stark

Man, I really wish I'd known before this went up on Advance, as I would have edited/rewrote this a bit. I see someone did edit it a bit, but now it's a jumbled mess - paragraph breaks in all the wrong places. I was down with a nasty cold when I wrote it and reading back on this it's clear that I was not on top of my game. Regardless, this might just be my worst writing in recent memory. I'm more than a little embarassed this is being seen here on Blogcritics, let alone the Advance network, too. Yikes. Note to self: don't post when sick.

If it was beyond help I wouldn't have Advanced it. You certainly must have high standards - or false modesty. If you're saying you didn't say what you wanted to say, well that's different and no one would know that but yourself. The casual reader would take it for what I tis - and likely enjoy it.

Paragraph breaks in all the wrong places? In different places, yes. But nothing that's wrong. Something had to be done - the paragraphs were huge. Your orignal post on your Web site has three paragraphs for the whole thing.

But thanks for noticing the edits.

Well, thanks Temple . . . I do have high standards, actually. I'm not sure if that's a good trait or bad - it gets me in trouble sometimes!

I can see that in a different format, such as long and narrow columns, a long paragraph might look pretty bad. You did what you could to present the material best, so thank you.

Still, I can see that my brain wasn't working quite up to snuff in that some of this seems to meander a bit. Anything I'm concerned about is more "hindsight is 20/20."

Note to self: when sick, write and then save the piece to read and edit later with a clearer head.

Is there another mirror for the pilot?

Does anyone have a complete cast list for NBC's version of "the office"? I can't find one anywhere.

The next great British shows that America will doubtlessly ruin...

Father Ted
Ted Danson plays one of three Catholic priests stranded on Coney island. Tom Selleck plays the old drunken lout, and Seth Myers does a convincing turn as the stupid priest. Cancelled after the "paedophilia episode" gets too many complaints.

Inspector Morse Monk at the OC
Inspector M&M, played by David Hasselhoff, prowls the "ivory towers" of Southern California University, trying in vain to make sure bikinied coeds don't misbehave. Stays on the WB for 12 seasons.

American Blackadder
A great concept loses ground when it is determined that Americans don't know their history and want things to stay that way. Consequently, George Washington and Abe Lincoln are recast as pious churchgoers, and only Will Ferrell's portrayal of Benjamin Franklin keeps the show worth watching.

Super Terrific
Kirstie Alley and Courtney Cox star as New York PR divas. The show flounders, but then Cox and Alley are replaced by the cast of "Queer Eye For the Straight Guy", and a hit is born.

The Monty Python Channel
24 hours of zany ridicule and unbelievable situations. Fox News sues it for copyright infringement.


And one show that went the other way...

Desperate People
John Cleese, Joanna Lumley and Gwyneth Paltrow star as a group of Brits who sit around talking about how they don't have enough sex, and then...talk some more about it.

"American Blackadder
A great concept loses ground when it is determined that Americans don't know their history and want things to stay that way."

Too damn funy!

You could have put "Coupling" there, but the US's version arrived stillborn and vanished, some things just don't translate. ( And why do I despise "Friends" but absolutley adore "Coupling"?,, I guess because the latter is witty, fresh, and unpredictable, all the thing s the former is not.)

Isn't Gwyneth actually an American who can do a good English accent?

I think of Gwyneth as honorarily British in the same way that Bob Hope is honorarily American...sometimes it takes an outsider to get the nationality just right.

You know, it's interesting...in Britain some derided the original 'Coupling' as a weak spinoff of 'Friends'...so I guess plus ca change...

Senseless, mindless, drivel - this show only insults people and encourages the utter lack of common decency to anyone. That may be the 'point' of the show - the fact the I felt like I was in a black hole for 30 agonizing minutes while I tried to give the show a chance was a pure waste.

I cannot believe the comments I am reading about NBC's The Office. This show is the funniest thing on TV. It makes me laugh so hard I have to pause the Tivo from time to time. My wife loves it. Everyone we have told about the show loves it. Everyone I know here loves it. And to read the some of the comments posted, you would think the show is the AntiChrist. The mere existence of this show has spawned some serious undeserved backlash from a obviously deranged few who feel it is their job to trash this show simply because they hate the very idea. How simple-minded is that? They kind of remind me of the intolerant views taken by the Christian Right here in America or Islamic extremists. And who wants to be associated with those hatemongers?

Next time we ask, "Why do they hate us?", I suppose we can add "The Office" to the rest of the reasons, eh Blake?

Blake -- I gave the new The Office a very favorable review, and have been talking it up over on my weekly TV column, Cathode Ray Fray.

This post is so late, I'm sure noone will even read it, but here it goes. I never saw the English version of the Office and have only heard good things. Hence the problem of remaking anything of greatness. Being that I never saw the original version my head wasn't filled with comparisons and high expectations. I thought this new adventure of the Office on N.B.C. to be fresh and funny in a time where sitcoms are second to last to "reality t.v." I just read this morning that the office will make the NBC fall line-up and I may be optimistic but I think this show has got somthing. Remember, Sienfeld, wasn't greated with such a wonderful reception either. Anyway it's just my opinion. Oh yeah, I think that little town setting of Scranton Pennsylvania May Help a Bit with this series. It gives people more to identify with. Not that the town is a big part of the show or anything. It's just that most people don't live in NYC or LA. Thanks for the blog, Billy Sweeney

I don't get all these bad reviews! I have watched several episodes of the US version of The Office and find it to be hilarious. Michael Scott has captured the true essence of David Brent, and I enjoy this version of the office just as much, if not more, than the UK version. Maybe the humour is more American, which is why British people do not enjoy it as much, or maybe viewers have not opened their minds enough to see what a great show this is.

Heres my view on The Office.

The uk version of the office is great comedy.
Whenever it first hit my television screen, i have to admit, i turned it over.
After a while and after hearing a few work buddies talking about it i decided to watch it and got hooked.

I have come to the conclusion that the smarter you are, the more you like the office.....i only say this as in my own social circle, those of my friends who have a brain love it, and those who are intellectually challanged cant quite seem to grasp it.

I painfully watched the pilot U.S version and gritted my teeth in fustration.
It could have been better, but it wasnt a bad introduction.
Ive seen a few more since and its good that they are distancing themselfs a little from the original
It's never going to be the same as the u.k version, but i am sure most Americans wont want it to be!

I think that for it to succeed it needs Steve Carell to be Michael Scott, not David Brent.......
I wish The Office U.S all the best in luck!!

I've never seen the BBC version, but I think the NBC one is wonderfully funny. It's right up there with Arrested Development and Scrubs among the best network comedies and I'm so glad it got a reprieve for this coming season.

I've heard that it's a bit different from the British version, but that makes sense to me. It seems like a really funny take on a fairly average American office (an office supply company in Scranton, PA) and the bizarre office politics that go on. I think the lesson NBC learned from Coupling is that Americans don't want by-the-book adaptations of British scripts with snarkier, prettier American actors reading the lines. I give NBC's version of The Office credit for adapting the comedy to the States.

Steve Carrell is friggin brilliant as the boss. Of course an American office boss will behave somewhat differently than a British one, and Carrell adds a great insecure, superficial, I'm-OK-you're-OK touchy-feely, manic quality to the role. And the guy who plays Dwight Schroop is pretty damn funny too.

That being said, I'm going to rent the BBC version and see how it matches up.

That is all.

The first episode aired was the pilot. Just watch the commentaries on the US version of "The Office" on DVD, with regards to the first episode, and you will realize why the characters played the way they did. Steve Carell didn't want to do a Ricky Gervais as David Brent impersonation, so he had to change it. Even HE knew he had no chance of equating the genius of Gervais. He was only hoping to do a decent job of it as an American character. The American characters had be different from the English ones because to have a one-for-one ripoff of "The Office" is genuinely stupid. Stop comparing the two because even the makers knew there was no comparison. Just accept it for what it is. A funny funny show. I did watch all episodes of both English and US versions and agree most with Murray's comments.

I'm so glad the American version isn't trying to be English. The characters are so American and that's what's so appealing. I bought the Season One DVD and I'm thoroughly enjoying every minute of it. Michael Scott is a little bit of every boss I've ever had in my working life. Steve Carrel is as other's have said, simply brilliant! I heard the Steve Carrel interview in which he says that he watched about 30 minutes of the English version and left it at that as he didn't want to try and match the English boss but wanted to develop his own interpretation of the character. This is a great show and the funniest one to come around in a long time.

this show is sweet and you are heartless little geeks living in your parents basement ... get out of the world of dungeons and dragons

I don't know about that, Larry. You're the only one resorting to the childish insults here. Who's the "little geek living in your parents basement" again?

NBC's The Office is probably one of the funniest show's in the history of television and if you disagree you're probably an idiot.

this is one of the very few shows on TV these days that are genuinely funny! enough of the overdoses of reality tv, the Office is true comedy at it's best, GREAT SHOW!! don't cancel this one!!

I caught the new episode that aired last night. Very funny. Plus I watched the entire first season DVD last weekend. I didn't really like the show at first but I can see it's value now...

British culture is much different than American culture. That shouldn't be so hard to grasp. Therefore, the American version must be different to succeed here. Look at the mistake they did with Coupling where they followed the BBC script nearly word for word. It was a flop. In my opinion, the American version is hilarious. Hats off to the writers who adapted it. I have rarely laughed at British comedy (aside from Monty Python) so I doubt I or most Americans would even like the British version. It's a wildly different culture -- face it. Why even make such a ludicrous comparison?

--ca

The British all sound like they have speech impediments, Down syndrome, or big difficulty saying things clearly. They mumble, in other words. It's a sloppy language.

You can not be serious.

I am one who generally prefers the Brit versions. It is nothing short of a miracle that the American version of The Office is so good -- and Steve Carell is great in it -- but the British one is still superior.

I watched the entire British DVD over the course of a weekend and could not keep myself from convulsing with laughter.

I then caught my first version of the American version and was disappointed, but the more time that elapses and my memory of the British version fades, the more I begin to like the American Office. Now I regard it as the best thing on television.

I've just been downloading a few of the episodes and I'm quite impressed with it, and has some brilliant cringey (should be a word) moments. It doesn't feel as natural as our version, though, but it's going to seem a bit alien to me because of the accents anyway. I'd like to have seen some bigger differences in the main characters or possibly bring the other archetypal office characters in the background to the font. The American Brent is a tad darker in his narcissism, though, and I hope this develops further, but I don't think they've exploited the American version of Gareth enough (at least not yet) - I definitely think they should bring elements of the Arthur character from 6 feet under over to him.

I have made it a point to watch this show since it began. I am one of those precious few who has yet to see the British version. I have no doubt it's amazing, because that is all I've heard.

As for the American version, I had low expectations in the beginning for much the same reasons that were mentioned above. The only actor I was familiar with was Steve Carell, and I absolutely love him. So perhaps I am biased. However, this turns out to be the one show I look forward to all week. The acting is absolutely brilliant. I know people that act like that in real life, and that office is so true to form. The awkward pauses, uncomfortable stares, and childish pranks completely make "The Office" a hit. I don't know ONE person that dislikes the show, and I am in the television industry. We're constantly quoting it and talking about it at the "water cooler". I hope it lasts for many, many years. In my opinion, this show puts "Curb Your Enthusiasm" to shame.

Brit version = better.... I'm sorry, but Steve Carell can't hold a candle to Ricky Gervais.

you're comparing apples to oranges. Two different cultures and their own sub-cultures. Nice try though.

I am in complete agreement with Blake. This Show is brillaint with its subtle humor, great script, and perfect cast. I can't believe the review. In my opinion, this is Steve Carell's best work, and he's perfect for the part. The show is wonderful at developing character, especially the unfolding relationship between Pam and Jim. Dwight is one of the funniest characters I've ever seen. This is the best TV I have seen since South Park.

I really enjoyed The Office last night...eough so that I decided to look for information on the show and the actors in it.

I rarely watch tv but will be watching this new show next week.

The UK version of the Office kicks ass.
As an American living in the UK I've seen both versions.
The US version is good I'll give it that but its so hard to compete against the best British comedy in a long time

IMO, the US version of The Office is getting better with age...the episodes are funnier and funnier.

I'm just hoping they can maintain the good momentum...I think they'll need to expand upon the characters and locations. How about Michael taking a trip to 'corporate'?!

Long live the US The Office!

I think season 2 of the American office is incredible, and I LOVED the British version. Yes, the American one is not as subtle and obviously more overt about everything, but it has a lot of things that are also more appealing (American popcultural references.) Since the beginning of theatre people have done very different takes of the same play, so I dont think its wrong what NBC is doing.

I am very happy that the quality of this show is so high- for a while I thought network television was just getting worse and worse. I dont know what the ratings are, but I hope that someone in that company cares about quality television enough to keep this show alive (Unlike Fox's "Arrested Development" which doesn't have the highest ratings because it is also an intelligent show)

Seriously, it's like it's not even the same show as when they aired the pilot. You need a new review here, because season two has been absolutely incredible.

Mike, there have been numerous reviews by my fellow Blogcritics since this one from nearly a year ago. I reviewed the show after several episodes where I stated that it showed a lot of promise and was very entertaining here in March.

I have been a big fan of The Office since the pilot, but I thought the Christmas Party episode was just too cruel to be enjoyable. I didn't expect a typical feel-good Christmas show, but "The Christmas Party" was far too bleak.

One expects Dwight to be humiliated by Michael, but usually the others just shrug off Michael's thoughtless insults. In this episode they cut deep.

The scene of Angela throwing Christmas decorations against the wall and then stamping on them while crying was painful to watch and the final scene was truly unbearable.

Hope this episode is an anomaly and doesn't point toward the future course of this show.

I never saw the UK version and I'm not going out of my way to do so. I sit at home to watch TV and laugh, I go elsewhere looking for art. THE OFFICE on NBS is fresh, new and funny. I haven't had this much fun with a new show since the days of Seinfeld and early Frazier.

Not having a laugh track makes it even funnier and dead-pan.

The boss? I worked for a jerk EXACTLY like him once. Always changing the rules to suit him, not the team who works for him.

And Dwight? He is so much like this other guy I worked with once, it's scary.

The Christmas Show took some risks and I think they paid off. Do we need one more sticky-sweet "can't we all get along" holiday kissy-kiss OR are we real enough to admit that The Holidays can push our buttons in the worst way possible?

"crying was painful to watch and the final scene was truly unbearable"

That's really why I love the British version and the American version for the most part (though I think it has more of a mean streak than the british one had)...it was simply unbearable to watch what was coming next.

bababa BULLSHIT
the office on nbc is completetlyt different from the BBC version
it is a very funny show
so leave it alone
they are not trying too hard they are actors they are just trying
oviously you are slanted toward the BBC version (which is a very funny show dont get me wrong) and won't even try to change your mind
just because it is a remake doesnt make it auotmaticly bad

look at both sides of the arguement jackass

ryan

The Christmas Episode was absolutely hilarious!!! They re-ran it last night, and it was the only episode I had missed this season so I was overjoyed. "Christmas is that special time of year where you get to tell someone that I love you THIS many dollars." The "yankee swap" bit was a riot because we just did one of those in our office this week. It is so funny when someone opens up a gift, and does the obvious fake smile - oh, a pair of fleece slippers... just what I wanted... please someone steal these stupid slippers from me. And if you have ever been to corporate Christmas parties where booze is served on an open-bar basis, you know that several things will no doubt happen that will make people not want to show their face in the office on Monday. What a riot - it's my favorite show on TV!!!

As a Brit, from what I have seen of the US version it's not too bad. People slating it should remember that Gervais and Merchant back the American show and love it.

My main criticism would have to be that the original was not just a comedy, it was a masterclass of naturalistic drama and acting. There is no one lese in the UK, let alone America, achieving the naturalism that Gerrvais and Merchant are at the moment (check out their free podcasts available for download - hilarious!)

It's not a cultural difference, the US show simply could not be as natrualistic and perfectly timed unless Gervais and Merchant wrote and directed it themselves. Once you get past this issue, the US version is pretty amusing.

I don't know how I ran across this blog. Funny though, because it is now May 11, 2006. The final episode of the second season aired tonight. Without a doubt, this is the most incredible show to come out on television since Seinfeld. The American version of The Office is spectacular in every way. Truly amazing. The review above could not be more wrong. Seriously. Every single thing the critic says was wrong with the show is executed perfectly by the show. It could not be more off-base. Honestly. Anyway, I wonder if he is eating his words right now.

Jason, I am the critic and I stand by everything I wrote. This review was about the pilot, which did not bode well at all for the show. I have since written other pieces about the show that praise it as the show grew immensely from this unsatisfying pilot. In the future, please do a little searching to see if the topic has been further discussed.

What is the deal with all these idiots attacking the reviewer? Get over it. I also fail to see why a comparison between the British version and the American version can't be made? Apples to Oranges? Yeah, right. You say they're two different cultures so a comparison can't be made? That's exactly why such a comparison is so interesting, it's good to see what people from both countries make of the two different "translations" of the same concept. Why are some people getting so defensive? It's just a t.v. show. If you think it was funnier than the original (or if it was just funny as a standalone comedy) argue your case, don't say "you can't compare the two so shut up". Also, they guy who told the reviewer to "look at both sides of the argument, jackass", wtf!? This is a REVIEW. Which is pretending to be nothing more than offering one man's opinion, since when has this been argument? Cos i don't see how anybody could win.

Finally, I really hope commenter no. 30 is joking. Sloppy language? You're right, maybe us British should speak 'American' like you....

I always hate hearing some cry baby talking about how the U.S. version pales in comparison and yadda yadda. The smart, open-minded people who enjoyed the British version can watch the U.S. version and enjoy it. I don't try to compare them, and it's a good thing, because if I did, I would realize that the U.S. version is actually much funnier. You say they watered it down for the U.S. version. The only thing they did is remove dildos, the word "shit"..and I could think of more, but I don't need to waste my time on this. Just enjoy it, and don't be sad or jealous just because the British version was cancelled. Peace.

The office is by far one of the funniest TV shows I have ever seen. I have never seen the british version, nor care to. The shows concept of documentary/humor makes me crack up. "This Is Spinal Tap" was the first time I ever saw this type of comedy. You have to have a certain level of intelligence and humor to be able to grasp this concept. Reno 911, Dog Bites Man and The Office are comedies that are setting a new level in TV.

Viva Dwight and Michael!!!!

Even though Tom Johnson (if that is his real name- sounds made up), the author of this review, has since updated his opinion of the U.S. version of "The Office", I'm sure he still gets pangs of embarassement when he considers his decision to pan the program at its offset. Hopefully T.J. does not pick stocks.

I hope that you take a look back at this and feel as stupid as your review of the U.S. version of The Office now sounds. Were you hoping for an exact replica of the UK version? If they wanted to do that they could have just brought the actors over here and revived the show. The U.S. version is different, no doubt about it, but the creators realized (1) there is no way to recreate an identical version of a show, (2) the UK version would probably not translate as well to the general public here in the U.S., and (3) the actors in the U.S. version knew their characters were loosely based on those set out in the UK version but were given the flexibility to develop their own personas. The result has been brilliance.

Nope, not at all stupid. The first episodes were very weak and paled in comparison to seasons two and three. Season four is off to a rough start with last week's episode, but we can hope for it to pick up from there. Time will tell.

I'm very surprised that The Office has been such a success in the US, since the cultural premise of the show is so far removed from anything American.

The original version spoofs the "fly on the wall" documentaries which British TV companies love to make. The idea is to take cameras into a "closed" situation (a police station, an airport, a hospital, a prison, a rehab unit, even - on one occasion - a new marriage) and just follow those people around and make stories out of the resulting footage. Like a fictional soap opera, the viewer gets to spy on the work and private lives of people they otherwise wouldn't interact with much.

The joke with The Office is the ludicrous pointlessness of a documentary about office workers, because the vast majority of viewers work in offices already!

So, as I said, it surprises me that Americans "get" The Office. I suspect that they "get" it for different reasons than the Brits do, which is probably why your version departs from the original in such a significant way.

WOW...the guy who wrote this was spot on, wasn't he? Seriously, you Brits are just way too hip for us Americans to "get".

I would like to comment on THE TODAY SHOW.
Since Meridith Viera(sp?) is anchor the Today Show has lost it's class!!...She always talks over everyone,never lets anyone finish a sentence without butting in,laughs loudly and obnoxiously!
Can someone...anyone.. teach her some manners and the chrisma of Katy Cuoric...and tell her to SHUT UP once in awhile and let others speak !!!!
I have been watching "Today Show" since 1950 And really hate to see it lose it's standard of excellence.

I really enjoy the US as well as the UK versions of the office, although to be honest I've only seen clips online of the UK version. I've never really seen an explanation of why there is an office documentary happening, though. I know in the British version the cameraperson has, on at least one occasion asked questions to the "interviewee" but I havent seen that happen on the US version... Do either versions give an explanation of why there is a documentary of a paper company?? or are we as viewers just supposed to say "It's hilarious, I accept it" ? ...just curious... thanks

Dr. Dreadful,

Fortunately for you, you apparently haven't had to watch too much American TV. We have this thing called "reality TV" here, which is where producers find idiots willing to embarrass themselves being "real" people in "real" situations, like living in a house with half a dozen complete strangers, competing to be hired by Donald Trump, or being fathers and sons yelling at each other while building cool motorcycles. It's cheaply written and cheaply acted by people with no training or talent.

I would say that while The Office probably makes a little more sense as a mock documentary about things no one cares about, it isn't that much of a stretch from American reality TV either.

i think they have made the show their own and i still find it incredibly hilarious. It is one of my favorite shows, actually. Even though it's a remake, it finds a way to make itself different from the original.