TV: The Office

[Miss Mary]

Do we have any "The Office" fans here at S2K?

My family and I watch it and are still talking about the season finale! I told them not to erase that show, I will watch it again. The ending - it was perfect, just perfect!

Comments, thoughts?

Mary

[nholley]

Is this the original Office or the US version?

[Miss Mary]

nholley - very good question.

I am referring to the US version, that airs on NBC and just concluded its second season.

I am a little confused but it sounds as if the US version is following the BBC version (storylines)? And that show is a year ahead?

Mary

[Janice]

I have not seen that show. I spend too much time eating and on Storm2k. I need to get a life.

[nholley]

nholley - very good question.

I am referring to the US version, that airs on NBC and just concluded its second season.

I am a little confused but it sounds as if the US version is following the BBC version (storylines)? And that show is a year ahead?

Mary

My understanding is that the US version is directly following the UK version but with US actors. They tried to bring a UK show to the US and just use the name of the show but not the same storylines and it failed so they went with the UK scripts.

I still don't understand why they do this....in the UK they have US shows and they are the same shows broadcast here.

[TexasStooge]

I've seen the UK version of "The Office", and it's WAY better than the US version.

[Aquawind]

I have not seen that show. I spend too much time eating and on Storm2k. I need to get a life.

LOL.. TV is no life either..run from that electrical device..

[CentralFlGal]

I've seen the UK version of "The Office", and it's WAY better than the US version.

Ditto. I absolutely loved UK's version once I got over the initial "OMG, I've worked for idiots like that!".

The US version did the best with what they were given, but the characters seemed flat when compared with the UK's. One minute, you'd be hating David Brent (office mgr), then feeling total compassion for his plight (albeit, self-induced) the next. The American office manager lacked that amount of depth and dimension.

The story lines are the same, but the US characters just didn't do it for me (but they might have had I not enjoyed the original first).

Definitely rent the BBC version

Did the American version end with the Christmas party, too? If so, kudos to them!

[Miss Mary]

The US version ended with Casino Night. Jim telling Pam he's in love with her. And of course, what fans over here are talking about: the kiss.

From what I have read about the xmas party, it's good! But maybe I don't want to know what's coming. I just don't want Pam to marry Roy.

Mary

[nholley]

Definitely rent the BBC version

I think the original UK version is on BBC America for those who get it.

[Miss Mary]

TV Alert!

Thursday June 1

The Office, 4 episode marathon

8 p.m. to 10 p.m. (EST).

[Miss Mary]

After starting this thread, my daughter and I were curious about the British/UK version of The Office. 3 installments: Season 1 (6 episodes) , Season 2 (6 episodes) and a Christmas Special (2 parts). Very short compared to our usuall American 22 or 23 seasonal episode content. We managed to find the UK Season 1 for rent at Blockbuster. Let me just say.....

We kept comparing characters and plots for the first episode. But after a while, we stopped. Of course you have Tim instead of Jim, Dawn instead of Pam, Gareth instead of Dwight, and finally, David Brent for the boss. For the main characters, many others compare to the US version.

We could see that the American version's pilot was taken directly from the British first episode. That's a shame, b/c the American pilot wasn't as funny as it is now (about to go into its third season). Confused yet? LOL

Finally, by the British second episode, we were into it - oh yeah, we loved it! It is just so funny....

I found the second season and xmas special available at my library - shock of all shocks. Blockbuster and Hollywood were of no help. We prefer renting, as opposed to purchasing DVD's. It's so costly when you purchase, obviously.......

We just finished watching the xmas special last night. We had to watch the ending, several times. It was just perfect, perfect.

Which one is our favorite - that is the hardest question to answer!!!! I can see now why fans say the British version is much better. We absolutely loved it.

To sum up the British version of The Office in two words? Utterly Brilliant!!!!

If you're curious as to why fans of The Office/US are talking about, rent The Office/UK - you won't regret it!!

It was only $1 each to rent from my library too and we can keep each disc for 10 days!!! Can't beat that price.....

Mary

[nholley]

It sounds like you have had the best of both worlds!!

[Miss Mary]

It sounds like you have had the best of both worlds!!

We did! We've decided the two shows cannot be compared although it's tempting to do so. We plan on seeing the extras on both discs before returning them to the library.

And the funny this is, as I was checking these out at the library the librarian glanced at both, smiling. She said she hadn't seen them yet. I told her our impression of the British version. Explaining the humor was different but we really liked the first season. I added it wasn't dirty or raunchy humor either. LOL Then we started the second season and the xmas special. Boy was I wrong!!! All I can say is, they get away with more mature content over in the UK than we do over here in the US. Funny yes but a bit of a shock. Especially after I told the librarian it wasn't that way!!!! She was older, possibly 60ish. Hey, for all I know maybe she has a sense of humor.....she implied she might check them out soon. LOL!

Mary

[P.K.]

I still don't understand why they do this....in the UK they have US shows and they are the same shows broadcast here.

Neither do I, but if I'm honest I don't tend to watch American comedies over here as I prefer our comedies. (Apart from the Simpsons)

This isn't the first time they've done this. I believe they tried to remake one of my favourite programmes Red Dwarf a few years ago for the USA but it didn't work.

In reference to the number of episodes per series above. It is normal for the BBC to have 6 per series with this sort of programme. Take Fawlty Towers for instance, one of the best ever comedies, and yet they only ever made 12 episodes over two series.

[Miss Mary]

PK - thanks for the UK explanation. Suffice to say, we really enjoyed the British version of the Office. It seems inevitable that fans will compare the two, for years to come.

Another show we're curious about is Coupling. We heard it was good. So maybe if we see it for rent we'll check it out.

Mary

[nholley]

PK - thanks for the UK explanation. Suffice to say, we really enjoyed the British version of the Office. It seems inevitable that fans will compare the two, for years to come.

Another show we're curious about is Coupling. We heard it was good. So maybe if we see it for rent we'll check it out.

Mary

Coupling is still one of the best shows...it is on every week on BBC America and still as funny as ever. For me it is the best British show available in the US, I never saw the US version but there is no way it could better the original.

PK: I never saw a US version of Red Dwarf but again the original version is still shown weekly on US TV. Trying to remake Red Dwark, Coupling or The Office would be like trying to make a British version of Friends. Just not a good idea.

[The Sandcrab]

Britcoms beat all but our best sitcoms, IMO

Absolutely Fabulous, French and Saunders - hilarious, but not for everybody

Vicar of Dibley, Father Ted - for the irreverent

Knowing Me, Knowing You, I'm Alan Partridge - LOL

Yes, Minister - for those who like a large dollop of comedy with their politics

The Office (UK) fans, don't miss Extras on HBO with Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant

(and the classics, Fawlty Towers, Keeping Up Appearances, Are You Being Served? MPFC . . .)

[nholley]

Yes Minister....now there's a blast from the past.

[P.K.]

I was just going to ask if Father Ted had made it over there as that is one of my favourites.

No we don't want a British version of Friends, the American one is bad enough.

Did the League of Gentlemen get over there? There are video clips of it on their website which I won't link to as it is rated 15 for a reason.

PK - thanks for the UK explanation. Suffice to say, we really enjoyed the British version of the Office. It seems inevitable that fans will compare the two, for years to come.

Another show we're curious about is Coupling. We heard it was good. So maybe if we see it for rent we'll check it out.

I doubt anyone here knows it was remade. That hasn't been on for a couple of years but I do remember it.

Yes Minister....now there's a blast from the past.

I've been meaning to ask. Do you have an English background? It is just you seem to know about all these programmes and you have the cross of St George as your logo.