US version of the office

**Risteard** · 26/01/2008, 1:44 AM

Now showing on Paramount.

I thought it might be annoying but it certainly lives up to the billing, mainly due to Steve Carrell.

Highly recommended for anyone who likes either the original series or american sitcoms.

**anto1208** · 26/01/2008, 2:41 AM

I like a lot of it some episodes fall flat , it would be great if the original had never been made you can t help but make comparisions still good though

**Bondvillain** · 26/01/2008, 2:42 AM

Steve Carell is fantastic in it, He's an exceptionally talented actor.

As expected, his Michael Scott character comes across as an idiot, but Carell makes him very human , and while quite similar to the UK office in terms of it being "so-squirm-inducing-you-have-to-watch-through-your-fingers" , He plays it in a subtly different style to Gervais' take on the character.

If anyone can't wait for Paramount , there are plenty of Reputable Aussie Ebay members selling the Australian Season 1&2 box set (which is both region 2 & 4 compatible, so no need for a multiregion player ) for about �23 for all 28 or so episodes from seasons 1 and 2, and bundles of extra features.

A fiver p&p and I had it in 4 days. Wahey! Office-tastic!

**Dodge** · 26/01/2008, 1:24 PM

Its been the best thing on TV for a couple of years now

**Bald Student** · 26/01/2008, 3:08 PM

The acting in it is excellent, the secretary in particular can say a lot with a very brief glance across the room.

**dahamsta** · 26/01/2008, 3:12 PM

Steve Carrell is very good, but he isn't a patch on (the odious) Gervais for cringe-inducement.

**Dodge** · 26/01/2008, 3:31 PM

Originally Posted by dahamsta

Steve Carrell is very good, but he isn't a patch on (the odious) Gervais for cringe-inducement.

But its not a copy of it. Its taken off in its ow direction

There's nothing stoping us loving both

**Lev Yashin** · 26/01/2008, 4:48 PM

i was so sceptical of this when i started watching it first...but it is hilarious and it gets better and better, season two and three are excellent, looking foreward to season four which i think has been shown in the states already

**Dodge** · 26/01/2008, 4:56 PM

Originally Posted by shannonman

i was so sceptical of this when i started watching it first...but it is hilarious and it gets better and better, season two and three are excellent, looking foreward to season four which i think has been shown in the states already

Only 8 episodes due to the WGA strike...

BTW Its on Channel 6 too

**Ireland4ever** · 26/01/2008, 5:06 PM

Its a great show, steve carrell puts in a great performance, makes it his own, doesnt just try and copy ricky gervais.

**beautifulrock** · 26/01/2008, 9:25 PM

Seen it for the first time this week and it was the very funny basketball episode. Steve C is excellent basically a smoother version of Gervais

**stann** · 26/01/2008, 10:32 PM

Wasn't expecting much when it came out here first, but it's a very good show, that to me will always suffer by comparison with the original, which is a bit unfair but there you go. It's still one of the best US sitcoms in many years.

I like the way it has quickly gone it's own way after earlier, establishing episodes that seemed to be virtual copies of the original scripts. Steve Carell has brilliantly developed his own comically grotesque character too. I'm sure I read somewhere that he'd only seen a bit of David Brent before he auditioned and since then has deliberately not watched any more for fear of copying him.
I also like though that they've kept the characters of Jim and Pam very similar to Tim and Dawn, they're immensely likeable and you find yourself hoping they'll end up the same way.

**Ash** · 27/01/2008, 10:12 AM

I saw an episode of it last year and thought it was terrible but since watching
it on Paramount I'm liking it. Incidently the episode I saw before hasnt been
broadcasted here (unless I missed it, cant remember what it was about but
it was a hakf hour of my life I'll never get back)

**pete** · 27/01/2008, 3:14 PM

Been watching it online for a while so was surprised to see Paramount doing 2 new episode every night.

It is not fair to compare with the UK version as it is different.

With so many episodes it is hard to keep the quality high all the time.

**Dodge** · 27/01/2008, 4:34 PM

The quality is high all the time...

Problem with Paramount is they don't show episodes in order all the time and a lot of the Office jokes are recurring, with great use of fore shadowing. Also the Jim and Pam story only works if you know the background...

**Dublin12** · 27/01/2008, 6:33 PM

Its brilliant alright and I have a strange attraction to that blonde weird girl

**superfrank** · 28/01/2008, 10:06 AM

I prefer it to the original. I think Steve Carrell is much funnier then Ricky Gervais. Also your man Dwight is a lot better then the original character. Same goes for Jim.

**Soko** · 28/01/2008, 11:35 AM

Way too forced and not one bit funny. Terrible show

**shakermaker1982** · 28/01/2008, 11:38 AM

the secret santa episode made me laugh. Very different to the UK version. I don't think the US version of 'Gareth' is as funny but it holds up pretty well overall.

**GenerationXI** · 03/02/2008, 11:35 PM

Originally Posted by superfrank

I prefer it to the original. I think Steve Carrell is much funnier then Ricky Gervais. Also your man Dwight is a lot better then the original character. Same goes for Jim.

Seconded!

Met a couple of Americans last year in Germany who had brought their dvds of the first three seasons with them - watched them non-stop for months. It's a different show to the UK one, but the characters in the US one are far more endearing and will grow on you.

They are different shows really, and one, if not both, will always suffer when compared to one another.