[Laura]

The Office is so mean-spirited and stressful. I can't handle it.

I think Frasier was an attempt to make a "highbrow" American sit-com. But it did rely heavily on situational humor and misunderstandings, which made it hard to watch. Some American shows do assume the audience is smart enough to "get it", but in general they are not half-hour sit-coms, but hour-long drama/comedy/action/whatever shows. Buffy the Vampire Slayer had a lot of smart jokes, and so does Gilmore Girls and Joan of Arcadia.

The Simpsons is notable in that regard: it achieved its popularity by including about a gajillion jokes, some of which you won't get, some of which you will. If you don't get one thing, fine, there will be something else that you will get. I don't understand why more TV shows don't take this approach. Most shows err on the side of stupid, and end up being unwatchable.

[electricprune]

Although I really like "The Office," I can understand what you mean by some shows being mean-spirited and stressful. I see that in a lot of these so-called "reality shows" today. I think "Fear Factor" and "The Apprentice" are absolutely vile. Oh, I dare you to eat 30 scorpions or a bowlful of maggots. And oooh, let's see who we can eliminate this week! I mean, come on, this is getting really sick!

[SimeSublime]

I have seen the first two seasons of the British Coupling, and loved every episode. I didn't realise they made an American version until Jane mentioned it awhile ago. Can't see it being very good though. They just started playing a show here called "Little Britain" or somesuch. Second ep was last night. I quite like it. It has Anthony Stewart Head(Giles from Buffy)as the Prime Minister, and some of the others look similar to the League of Gentlemen, which was also a good show(though I haven't seen very many of them).

[Just your average movie goer]

Oh, I like Anthony Steward Head. I'd love to see this show sometime... just because he's in it. He's so cool, even though he technically shouldn't be, but he is.

[SimeSublime]

Its quite a clever show. Plays off a lot of sterotypes at times, but its really good.

[Jane Sherwood]

I watch that all the time! ...Or at least, I did until I moved to a place with no TV or BBCA, and the only times I can have access to one it's the wrong day, but still!

My mom got creeped out by some bits, though, so I don't think she likes it very much, but my favorite bits so far are with Ann (I think that’s the name), going around making those “eh eh eh!” noises and all that crazy stuff (chucking a wheelbarrow across the hospital garden comes to mind), then he/she pulls out her cell-phone and is suddenly completely normal!

[SimeSublime]

Yeah, thats the episode that was on last night. She was smashing a small tree into the ground in the garden. Later she started pouring tea all over the visitor guy.

I really like the guy in the wheelchair. For those that haven't seen the show, theres the disabled bloke in the wheelchair and his mate who trys to help him out. The thing is, the guy in the wheelchair is actually fine and just pretending to be retarted to annoy his friend. Last night he made his friend take him to a fancy restraunt dressed as a smurf, with blue paint and all.

[Patrick Bateman]

From what I've heard and the clips I've seen so far, the US Office will not be as funny as the UK version, but little on tv is so no big loss, it will however be funnier than most of the shit out there.

UK - US conversions

Fawlty Towers became some US show in which Basil Fawlty - that's right the protagonist of the series - was left out!

Monty Python 'became' or at least heavily influenced Saturday Night Live ... nuff said.


Favourite line from the Uk Office

"Favourite fantasy, what's yours?"
"What ..."
"We were just discussing ulitmate fantasies."
"Oh ... two lesbians, twins, I'm just watching."

[HMC]

I watched the first episode of the US The Office. From what I've seen it's not a very good show. I've also heard bad things about it, and that it's a disgrace when compared to the UK version. I did laugh a couple times, though. Like where the guy played a joke on the one girl and he was all "You've been X'd punked!" and she started crying.

Yeah, but I haven't seen an episode since.

[barend]

i didn't watch 'the office', i saw a few episodes and though it was brilliant, but it was just too realistic... i have met too many people like that and i feel sick in my stomach watching it because i hate those people...

if anything, this state of affairs is a credit to the show...

either way... i'm pissed off about an american version...

what the fuck is wrong america? why can't they sit the fuck down and watch another culture for 23 fucking minutes... is it so hard for them...

this futher pushes the stereo type that america is a nation of unimaginative bigots. which sucks because there are a lot of great creative and talented and just plain cool people over there...

but bloody hell... what does america have against original things.

all these remakes at the movies, and americanised versions of british things...

It sickens me....

and before anyone defends, and says but the english okayed it, well you can go to hell, because, quite frankly, it is only out of fear and neccesity that people do it.

AMERICA!!!

watch foreign sit-coms, eat foreign food, watch movies made in the 1970s...

IT WON'T FUCKING KILL YOU...

[Kirby]

But... but.. everyone says we're number one. If we're number one and we change something, then it must be for the better... right?

IT WON'T FUCKING KILL YOU...

But it will make our stuff look worse by comparison.

This post has been edited by Kirby: 23 June 2005 - 11:51 PM

[Jordan]

I never knew about the American OFFICE. The British one is hilarious. Or was, I don't know what's going on with it, the show ended on a serious note......

I understand the humor. A lot of my customers either get it or don't (work in a video store). If they don't understand it, they really hate it.

[Patrick Bateman]

Ahh ... another video store worker. We have the office on Dvd and people tend
to either love it or want their cash back. Their are definitely moments where it is both hilarious and cringe-inducing (David Brents second series motivational speaking for example, or his rednose day dance ...) but it is by far the funniest thing I have seen for ages.

Why doesn't Americas produce things like this? I think they do, but usually you discover that it was against the advice of every studio exec involved. Soprano's - not a comedy methinks but class all the same - was rejected by almost every studio and Seinfeld was on the brink of cancellation for the first three seasons. Britain seems to have a more handsoff 'here's the cash go make you tv show' approach which results in a more individual - read less mainstream shitty - show.

That said, Friends was funny, twice if I remember correctly