NBC waters down their version of the BBC's brilliantly cringe-inducing original, ruining it for everyone.
Oh boy. I just saw the US version of Britain's The Office (found via Metafilter) and . . . it's not very good.…
"A sinister cabal of superior writers."
Article comments
26 - eric
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.
27 - liane
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!!
28 - Scott
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...
29 - ca
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
30 - harry thomas
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.
31 - Natalie Davis
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.
32 - mt shapcott
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.
33 - Slappy Feet
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.
34 - Susie
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.
35 - Tan The Man
Brit version = better.... I'm sorry, but Steve Carell can't hold a candle to Ricky Gervais.
36 - enemyancestor
you're comparing apples to oranges. Two different cultures and their own sub-cultures. Nice try though.
37 - Dan
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.
38 - simply_wandering
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.
39 - Ali
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
40 - Ric-o
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!
41 - Jacki
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)
42 - Mike
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.
43 - Tom Johnson
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.
44 - Dennis
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.
45 - Buddy
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?
46 - Scott
"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.
47 - Ryan
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
48 - Jason
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!!!
49 - D
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.
50 - Jason
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.
51 - Tom
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.
52 - Si
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....
53 - Matthew Thompson
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.
54 - Leo Castro
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!!!!
55 - Will Durham
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.
56 - Me
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.
57 - Tom Johnson
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.
58 - Dr Dreadful
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.
59 - Jared
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".
60 - Patricia A Williams
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.
61 - Patrick
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
62 - Manwell
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.
63 - lydia
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.