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The Office US - Grade A entertainment
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From a show that started as badly as this one did, and looked to have no chance of ever stepping out of the shadow of the British version, it's incredible how well it has turned out. Most of season 1 was a bit hit and miss, but season 2 has been rock solid, and it's now one of the shows I most look forward to each week. The only weak link is the Dwight/Gareth character who is badly cast, but at least they have toned him down a little.
Anybody else been converted?
Anybody else been converted?
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He is especially good in Anchorman and The 40 year old virgin.
A few weeks ago I caught the repeats on BBC2 and really enjoyed it. I think if you disassociate it with the British version and just accept it as an American Sitcom then it's not so bad.
I still don't understand why they needed to remake it though, they should have just shown the British version. We never remake their programs, so why remake it?
The British version would have sunk like a rock with mainstream America. It might have done alright on cable, like Extras on HBO, but NBC in prime time? Never. Also, they ideally want enough episodes for syndication, and to fill a whole or at least half a season to be able to give it a good time slot, and the British version was quite short.
The reasons British TV doesn't remake US shows much are very simple.
1. They simply can't do it. Can you imagine a UK version of Friends, 24 or even Lost? Think Coupling, Spooks and maybe Dr Who, and see if you can keep yourself from laughing.
2. Money. Licensing succesful American shows is expensive, and why bother when you can't do it right anyway. Much better to try cheap knock-offs like the ones I mentioned.
I saw a few episodes of Curb Your Enthusiasm the other day and think it's one of the best comedy series from America. It has a similar style to our The Office which is why I think our version could have done well over their.
The problem with the 1st episode is that it was basically a word for word copy of the British episode, and Micheal Scott is different to David Brent, so trying to copy his mannerisms didn't work.
When they gradually moved away from the following the British model, I enjoyed it more as I wasn't sitting there always comparing it to the British version. My favourite episode was the one where they did the anti-racism day and stuck post-it notes on each others foreheads. Some of the moments in that showed quality comedy.
My favourite was the basketball ep.
The first season got better and better as it went on and it's continued to improve this year. Despite it's not fantastic ratings I hope NBC, as they do with Scrubs, realize it's a quality show and keep it on the air for a few more years. Just wish Fox were as understanding with Arrested Development (how can they cancel a show with the amount of awards it has won in just 2 and a 1/2 years).