The Office

[Jiggy_12]

A new show called "The Office" was on after the Apprentice tonight. It stars Steve Carell, better known as "Brick" from Anchorman.

Link

Freakin' hilarious show! Who else caught it?

[calf]

I saw it - it was damn brilliant.

The four people I admire most are Bob Hope....Abraham Lincoln, you gotta have him in there......Bono....and....God.

I don't think it will catch on though, but will be great to watch while it lasts.

[Jiggy_12]

I was totally caught off guard by this show, I was expecting crap to be honest. I just hadn't heard anything about it.

It was pure comedy, it didn't rely in silly gags or expected jokes. Really, really funny stuff.

My guess is fans of Trailer Park Boys will also be fans of this show. Similar Mockumentry concept. No laugh track, awkward pauses, realistic dialogue.

edit: Here's an article written a few days ago previewing the show and where they got the concept from.

Click Here

[Agamemnon]

I just saw it myself.

I was actually really, really shocked. I expected it to be similar to the BBC series, but I did _not_ expect it to be the same plot/script (exactly) as the other series. The first episode was more or less a complete ripoff of the first episode of the original series, with Americana inserted where British references existed.

Many of the lines were carbon copied, as were actor placements (like... exactly where they sit in the office), and the actors themselves appeared to be emulating, as much as possible, their counterparts.

If you've seen and are a fan of the original series, watching the new one is liking watching the Twilight Zone, a parallel universe but exactly the same. Bizarro.

[shoestring]

Yeah but the Brits ar brilliant dun't you thik?

I thought it was great,too funny that we could stupe to that level.
And then laugh about it. I was relating to the news guy on Newsroom which is also hilarious (Jim)(the Park Ranger on redgreen).
Future management tapes.
Did you ever see John Cleeses management tapes?

[Ro]

I found it interesting that most of the media write-ups about the show are surprised that it doesn't suck, which means I might actually watch a few episodes. But for fans of the original series, as good as I'm sure Steve Caroll will be, you just can't/shouldn't mess with a classic.

Sidenote- I was reading this this morning and waxing nostalgic about the old series, and decided to throw in my "Office Special" DVD and watch some of the bonus features. By accident, I happened to stumble across one of the DVD easter eggs- from the "special features" menu, wait for the copy machine on the left of the frame to start humming and cpoying something, and select it. You'll be treated to the outtakes from the filming of the video for "If You Don't Know Me By Now," and I must say, I was belly-laughing through the whole thing. I can't wait for some of you others who own this DVD to watch it- it's simple, and short, but absolutely hilarious for some reason. If you own a copy of this DVD, you're in for a laugh.

[snappyk]

I thought it was great, I really got a kick out of the guy who kept on taking the assistant to the regional managers stuff and putting it in jello. I hope it lasts.

[zarrell]

As soon as the guy pulled out the stapler in the jello I was rolling on the ground. I also like the lack of an audience clapping and laughing. I will watch again.

[JD]

Wow... I thought it was terrible. I guess I just have different tastes than all of you.

I didn't find anything to be that funny. I get that they were trying to make the boss obnoxious, but I just found the portrayal to be be way over the top. Playing gags on the geek of the office always makes for good fun and comedy in real life, but putting stuff in jello??? Who does that? Who would go to that kind of trouble on an ongoing basis?

Ah well. I'm glad someone enjoyed it.

[flmsfan2004]

I also thought it was super funny. I hope it catches on.

You can watch clips on the nbc website. The best ones are "Your like the new and improved Pam- Pam 6.0"
"Alright, break it up girls, your being infiltrated. #### in the hen house."
"Cocks in the hen house"

[Agamemnon]

I guess in the same vein as what I said above, if you've watched (and love) the British series, this one looks like you and your friends sitting around trying (lamely) to rip off all of its jokes. And filming it and putting it on US TV.

Without Ricky Gervais (David Brent), its not even close to as good.

If you liked the new one last night, go watch the BBC ones, much better.

I wonder if they'll carbon-copy all 12 episodes first, and then go w/ new stuff?

[calf]

Originally posted by Agamemnon@Mar 25 2005, 10:25 AM

I wonder if they'll carbon-copy all 12 episodes first, and then go w/ new stuff?

I read in the Herald yesterday that only the first episode is a rip-off, and the rest are going to be original.

I think I'm going to have to rent the British version if it's that much funnier than last night's episode.

[Agamemnon]

I read in the Herald yesterday that only the first episode is a rip-off, and the rest are going to be original.

Ok, then I guess I can stop being a jerk about it. It just really blew me away how exactly they'd copied the BBC first episode. Good to hear there'll be new stuff, I couldn't have watched 12 copies!

I think I'm going to have to rent the British version if it's that much funnier than last night's episode.

An excellent idea, let everyone know what you thought.

[MrMastodonFarm]

I was very impressed. I knew it was on and sat down to watch it, I had no expectations for it whatsoever.. I thought it would suck.

They used alot of the same material from the first episode of the British version, but I think as they find their own legs it could be brilliant. I laughed so hard when the guy put up his pencil defence system and the nerdy guy started smashing it with his phone.. funny stuff.

Considering the Brtish version of the Office is one of the funniest things ever made this American one held up very well, I was shocked. Hopefully this thing catches on because I could see it falling by the wayside pretty quickly.

It will air on Tuesday which will be its normal time slot from now on, keep watching.

[MrMastodonFarm]

Originally posted by calf@Mar 25 2005, 11:41 AM
I read in the Herald yesterday that only the first episode is a rip-off, and the rest are going to be original.

I think I'm going to have to rent the British version if it's that much funnier than last night's episode.

Well thats good news, it would be hard to do episode by episode copies, and since the one in England was only 12 episodes.. I bet NBC wants more then that.

As for renting the British one, just go out and buy the season one and two DVD set, seriously. If you liked the American one last night you will fall in love with the British one right away.

Brilliant stuff.

[Coelah]

Said in Bam Bam Rubble's voice:

Pam! Pam! Pam!

[MarchHare]

Both my girlfriend and I thought it was bloody terrible -- like watching a trainwreck.

Of course, we're both huge fans of the original British series. The American version of The Office is like watching a production of Hamlet by Jefferson High School, vs. The Royal Shakespearean Company that is the UK cast.

For those of you who actually liked this travesty, do yourselves a favour and spend $45 on the British DVDs. The story is exactly the same, but the jokes and acting are about a million times better.

[Hack&Lube]

English comedy is never emulated well by Americans. I have to say that arguably, this is possibly the best attempt yet after all the horrible ones like the American Faulty Towers and the American Coupling and all that other crap.

BTW, watch "My Family" on YTV @ 12:30AM every weeknight. Great Britcom w/ Robert Lindsay (ironically, produced by an American who realized those jokes and sensibilities would never work in America with American actors so brought his idea to the BBC).

YTV used to show "Are You Being Served" quite a bit late nights following My Family but I'm really unhappy they replaced it with Gilmore Girls ARRGH.

But damn that comedy and writing in Are You Being Served was so intelligent!

While somebody on Joey would say: "Why the heck are you laughing at me for dumbass!?" Are You Being Served would say: "There is no cause for levity!!!"

Everything said, please give Office a chance, the other episodes should be original and if you don't know it yet, Steve Carell is one of the funniest men on television who's never hit it big or gotten any big degree of recognition. He's the sleeper and really deserves the new show.

BTW, I really loved Newsradio (until Phil Hartman died). Does anybody else like that show? It was very intelligent and creative for an American comedy.

[peter12]

Originally posted by Hack&Lube@Mar 27 2005, 06:03 AM
English comedy is never emulated well by Americans. I have to say that arguably, this is possibly the best attempt yet after all the horrible ones like the American Faulty Towers and the American Coupling and all that other crap.

BTW, watch "My Family" on YTV @ 12:30AM every weeknight. Great Britcom w/ Robert Lindsay (ironically, produced by an American who realized those jokes and sensibilities would never work in America with American actors so brought his idea to the BBC).

YTV used to show "Are You Being Served" quite a bit late nights following My Family but I'm really unhappy they replaced it with Gilmore Girls ARRGH.

But damn that comedy and writing in Are You Being Served was so intelligent!

While somebody on Joey would say: "Why the heck are you laughing at me for dumbass!?" Are You Being Served would say: "There is no cause for levity!!!"

Everything said, please give Office a chance, the other episodes should be original and if you don't know it yet, Steve Carell is one of the funniest men on television who's never hit it big or gotten any big degree of recognition. He's the sleeper and really deserves the new show.

BTW, I really loved Newsradio (until Phil Hartman died). Does anybody else like that show? It was very intelligent and creative for an American comedy.

There was an American Fawlty Towers...?

[Hack&Lube]

Originally posted by peter12+Mar 27 2005, 10:13 AM--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td>QUOTE (peter12 @ Mar 27 2005, 10:13 AM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'> <!--QuoteBegin-Hack&Lube@Mar 27 2005, 06:03 AM
English comedy is never emulated well by Americans. I have to say that arguably, this is possibly the best attempt yet after all the horrible ones like the American Faulty Towers and the American Coupling and all that other crap.

BTW, watch "My Family" on YTV @ 12:30AM every weeknight. Great Britcom w/ Robert Lindsay (ironically, produced by an American who realized those jokes and sensibilities would never work in America with American actors so brought his idea to the BBC).

YTV used to show "Are You Being Served" quite a bit late nights following My Family but I'm really unhappy they replaced it with Gilmore Girls ARRGH.

But damn that comedy and writing in Are You Being Served was so intelligent!

While somebody on Joey would say: "Why the heck are you laughing at me for dumbass!?" Are You Being Served would say: "There is no cause for levity!!!"

Everything said, please give Office a chance, the other episodes should be original and if you don't know it yet, Steve Carell is one of the funniest men on television who's never hit it big or gotten any big degree of recognition. He's the sleeper and really deserves the new show.

BTW, I really loved Newsradio (until Phil Hartman died). Does anybody else like that show? It was very intelligent and creative for an American comedy.

There was an American Fawlty Towers...? [/b][/quote]
THREE OF THEM!

Snavely's in 1978, Amanda's By the Sea in 1983, and most recentely, Payne with John Laroquette in 1999!

All miserable failures. And don't get my started on the American Red Dwarf w/Daphne from Frasier.