US version of the office

**Bald Student** · 04/02/2008, 3:04 AM

I think that the UK version gets across the banality of working in 'the office' better than the US version. In the UK the show would cut to a photocopier, or something similar, between conversations and had a constant background noise of an office running.

The US version explores characters much more deeply, moving away from the UK series.

**Dr. Ogba** · 07/04/2008, 10:13 AM

Just bought the first series as going cheap (�8) in HMV, and must say it's quite enjoyable. Casting of Steve Carrell and Rainn Wilson in the Brent and Gareth roles was inspired...

Dare I say that it even equals the highs of the original???

Second season being repeated from this week onwards on Paramount at 7 o'clock daily so well worth checking out...

**anto1208** · 07/04/2008, 10:20 AM

if the original had never been made the US one would be brilliant. Its very good but you cant compare it to the UK one still streets ahead.

**pete** · 07/04/2008, 11:51 AM

The US version is different than the UK one. You could say Us one is inspired by the UK one. US version is quality show & while I thought dipped a bit in series 3 been watching 4 recently & very good. It is debatable if the UK version could have kept the quality for 4 series & up to 20 episodes per series.

**anto1208** · 07/04/2008, 12:35 PM

Originally Posted by pete

The US version is different than the UK one. You could say Us one is inspired by the UK one. US version is quality show & while I thought dipped a bit in series 3 been watching 4 recently & very good. It is debatable if the UK version could have kept the quality for 4 series & up to 20 episodes per series.

The uk one was written by 2 guys with very little money on there own. Where as the US one is written by a big writting team as with most US shows.

I dont think either the Gareth or Brent guys are as good as the UK one still very funny but you would be hard pushed to beat Gareth.

**pete** · 07/04/2008, 2:30 PM

Originally Posted by anto1208

The uk one was written by 2 guys with very little money on there own. Where as the US one is written by a big writting team as with most US shows.

True but makes little difference to the audience who is watching it. We are comparing apples & oranges though. Gervais & Merchant must have made a nice few quid as executive producers of US show.

**anto1208** · 07/04/2008, 2:43 PM

Originally Posted by pete

True but makes little difference to the audience who is watching it. We are comparing apples & oranges though. Gervais & Merchant must have made a nice few quid as executive producers of US show.

Oh they ll make millions out of it , its going to have around 10 or 11 series like seinfield making them an absolute fortune by the time it finishes.

**Dr. Ogba** · 07/04/2008, 3:13 PM

Originally Posted by anto1208

Oh they ll make millions out of it , its going to have around 10 or 11 series like seinfield making them an absolute fortune by the time it finishes.

doubt it would have anything like that kind of longevity but wouldn't put it past the Americans to milk the cash out of a show when its long past its sell-by date (Simpsons, Scrubs, Friends being prime examples)....

**Aberdonian Stu** · 07/04/2008, 3:53 PM

I think the bigger problem the US version of The Office faces is ratings. Despite being widely praised over there it hasn't ever done great numbers so that could cost it in the long run. I would say it will make it to at least 5, maybe even 7 on critical acclaim alone but it would be tough to see it go any further without a serious numbers boost.

**max power** · 07/04/2008, 8:50 PM

Originally Posted by Dr. Ogba

Just bought the first series as going cheap (�8) in HMV, and must say it's quite enjoyable. Casting of Steve Carrell and Rainn Wilson in the Brent and Gareth roles was inspired...

Dare I say that it even equals the highs of the original???

Second season being repeated from this week onwards on Paramount at 7 o'clock daily so well worth checking out...

it beats it hands down for me full stop.

**cheifo** · 10/04/2008, 3:06 PM

I actually witnessed a man interacting with his staff at an expo in England who had to be David Brents brother.He, the boss walked up to his work colleagues in the bar and said with a stern face "What are you all doing breaking company rules?" A little taken back they asked what the problem was.He then broke out the the most smug grin you've ever seen and said"You know its company policy to drink champagne on the company tab for the last night" They all then started humouring him with "Oh I cant believe you got us again" and he looked all self congratulary and kept repeating "Still the master,still the master"..... Painful but funny.

**Dodge** · 10/04/2008, 5:53 PM

Originally Posted by anto1208

The uk one was written by 2 guys with very little money on there own. Where as the US one is written by a big writting team as with most US shows.

6 writers. 4 of whom are in the show

Originally Posted by Aberdonian Stu

I think the bigger problem the US version of The Office faces is ratings. Despite being widely praised over there it hasn't ever done great numbers so that could cost it in the long run. I would say it will make it to at least 5, maybe even 7 on critical acclaim alone but it would be tough to see it go any further without a serious numbers boost.

Its ratings are fairly good in the key demographics. The last (trucated) season was to see them delever a record 30 episodes. NBC has also sought a spin off show (as yet no details released) so its pretty safe. It'll pretty muich stay on air as long as Steve Carell wants it too tbh.

For all you downloaders, the show returns in the US tonight

**Dr. Ogba** · 11/04/2008, 7:59 AM

what season are they on now Dodge?

**Dodge** · 11/04/2008, 10:43 AM

Season 4

**jebus** · 11/04/2008, 10:49 AM

Originally Posted by pete

The US version is different than the UK one. You could say Us one is inspired by the UK one. US version is quality show & while I thought dipped a bit in series 3 been watching 4 recently & very good. It is debatable if the UK version could have kept the quality for 4 series & up to 20 episodes per series.

People always seem to forget that when bashing US comedies, I recently had a converstaion about Seinfeld being the greatest sitcom and one the other lads said that quality wise it wasn't up to Fawlty Towers. Now I like Fawlty Towers a lot, but you can't compare a series with 200 episodes to a series with 12 episodes in terms of quality

**pete** · 11/04/2008, 1:09 PM

Originally Posted by jebus

People always seem to forget that when bashing US comedies, I recently had a converstaion about Seinfeld being the greatest sitcom and one the other lads said that quality wise it wasn't up to Fawlty Towers. Now I like Fawlty Towers a lot, but you can't compare a series with 200 episodes to a series with 12 episodes in terms of quality

Both great in their own right.

**Dr. Ogba** · 11/04/2008, 1:32 PM

Originally Posted by jebus

People always seem to forget that when bashing US comedies, I recently had a converstaion about Seinfeld being the greatest sitcom and one the other lads said that quality wise it wasn't up to Fawlty Towers. Now I like Fawlty Towers a lot, but you can't compare a series with 200 episodes to a series with 12 episodes in terms of quality

Must say that Seinfeld brings out a "meh" reaction from me, watched a few episodes that, while moderately funny, also served to showcase just how incredibly annoying Jerry Seinfeld is...

Don't think I'd be rushing out to get any boxsets of it in the near future...

**pete** · 11/04/2008, 9:08 PM

Originally Posted by Dr. Ogba

Don't think I'd be rushing out to get any boxsets of it in the near future...

Don't buy this so.

**Jerry The Saint** · 13/04/2008, 5:38 PM

Originally Posted by jebus

People always seem to forget that when bashing US comedies, I recently had a converstaion about Seinfeld being the greatest sitcom and one the other lads said that quality wise it wasn't up to Fawlty Towers. Now I like Fawlty Towers a lot, but you can't compare a series with 200 episodes to a series with 12 episodes in terms of quality

Totally agree with this. Seinfeld had 183 original half-hour episodes - I would probably put around 170 of those on the level of genius. The show was a massive critical, as well as commercial success. And you can't even say it outstayed it's welcome - Jerry was offered $110 million to do another series and turned it down. As he said when NBC showed him the graph of viewing figures going up year on year - "I don't want to know where that line ends".

So he got out after 9 full years - Cleese thought two short UK series was as far as he wanted to push it. Likewise for Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant. Extras kept beating us over the head with how rubbish most TV is (reality shows etc.) - maybe there wouldn't need to be so much of it if the actually talented people made shows that had more than 7 or 8 hours of content over their entire run.

Even Larry David's other great show which is less labour-intensive than a regular network sitcom has still managed to get to 60 episodes and 6 seasons over 8 years.

The Simpsons success rate is lower, %-wise but they've managed to produce more great episodes than any other show, IMO. I've no problem with them running it into the ground and breaking a few records along the way.