FTA-TV The Office: US or UK?

[Skeppersap]

The UK Office is just hilarious. There was a scene between David Brent the new Slough office boss Neil. Listening to Brent try to explain what he has brought to the organisation just reminded me of some of my own managers!!

And seriously, how many IT Guys are like this in your office

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Stephen Merchant is just terrific, and he is absolutely brilliant as the agent in Extras.

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Wow, I followed some of th links to the UK youtube vids, specifically to the Superchicken and the Freelove Freeway clips. I think time has made me forget just how good the UK version was. It was jus purely sensational.

These two shows are my favourite comedies ever, and as mentioned before, should be treated as seperate shows. The UK is just constantly brilliant, but only for about 14 episodes. The US version, while not as consistently brilliant, has more stories and goes for so much longer, so they can explore more scenarios. Season 3 is where the US version is at its best. Andy is the best character on either shows, and when he is angry he is just awesome.

All this thread does is remind me just how good these 2 shows are. Modern Family is great, but nothing else gets close.

 

[Plugger35]

some people think that about steve carrell.

IMO if you don't like carrell, you will no tlike the us version and vice versa with gervais.

I don't find carrell as funny as Gervais so its the UK version for me.

Pretty much the deal for me. Love Gervais and the UK version but don't like Carrell which puts me off liking the US version.

Besides that I prefer the more downplayed, subtle British humour to the more over the top, obvious US humour.

 

[Daytripper]

Don't understand the hate for the US version. Its one of the better comedies to come out of there in the last 20 years IMO.

That said, the UK Office is fantastic.

I'd do what others have said. Watch the UK version first, then watch the US version but skip the first episode of Season One which was terrible.

 

[Darealrath]

UK version. It was a masterpiece.

 

[thetigerman]

UK version is total shit.
US version only a little better.
Avoid both.

 

[lions_den]

Watched US one first, started watching the UK one the other week but got bored. Like Clive said, I think it's what ever one you watch first you'll enjoy more.

 

[Spudregus_87]

UK version is total shit.
US version only a little better.
Avoid both.

 

[tombomb]

I have watched every episode of both series, including episode 1 of series 7 of the us office (aired last week) and can honestly say that both are equally good ... but for different reasons.

UK is basically a flawless masterpiece, but it did only run for 12 episodes (plus christmas)

US version only rivalled the uk version during series 2 and 3. It has dropped off fairly dramtically since Jim and Pam got together. Every scene with those 2 in it now is almost unwatchable. US office has an ensemble cast with lots of funny characters ... given it has over 100 episodes, i reckon there is more value in getting into the US version.

A lot of people got their back up about the US version because of the pilot episode. I think it was pretty clear that it was done that way (almost shot for shot remake) deliberately to show that they werent pretending it was an original show. Since episode 1 of season 1, it has been its own show.

My recommendation would be to buy season 2 and 3 of the US version.

 

[Pykie]

Time for a decade long bump.

I've rebooted both of these whilst in isolation.

Love to hear peoples thoughts these days.

I think the US Office is pretty underrated. Season 2 and 3 is pretty bloody brilliant.

 

[GROTTO]

Time for a decade long bump.

I've rebooted both of these in isolation.

Love to hear peoples thoughts these days.

I think the US Office is pretty underrated. Season 2 and 3 is pretty bloody brilliant.

Having seen both here is my take.

Initially, I rated the UK Office as a masterpiece in comedy, when the US Office came along the first season or so felt like a pure cheap ripoff of the original. However as the seasons progressed in the US it developed and became its own separate entity and evolved into a classic comedy.

I have watched multiple times the US Office but never the UK Office. The US Office unfortunately due to ratings dragged on for too many seasons, the perfect time to end could have been "JAM's Wedding" or when Steve left the show, it continued from there and fizzled out towards the end. Still watchable but never to the high degree of quality to which S2-S5 seasons was like.







Still think Microsoft Office is the best.

 

[Carbine Chaos]

US version isn't even funny IMO. For me, its in the same massively overrated category as Friends, Everybody Loves Raymond and 30 Rock.

Oof. Terrible call on 30 Rock.

Agree with those who look at each version as completely different shows. UK probably tips it just because the US show jumped the shark at a certain point, but I preferred the high points of the US (think Basketball, Diversity Day, Dinner Party) compared to the UK.

Also found Michael a better character because at least you could see why he was made the boss; never got that with Brent.

 

[Macca19]

US Office is underrated by those staunch fans of the UK version.

Whilst the UK is the best show of all time, the US version is funny as hell and brilliant in its own right. Seasons 2-4 are absolute gold.

 

[Pykie]

US Office is underrated by those staunch fans of the UK version.

Whilst the UK is the best show of all time, the US version is funny as hell and brilliant in its own right. Seasons 2-4 are absolute gold.

Ricky Gervais > Steve Carell (although he does have some moments)

I think Dwight and Jim make it for me - they are better than Tim and Gareth.

The supporting cast of the US make it pretty close imo.

Some of the best episodes surround the supporting cast, which is where it differs from the UK version. It's also pretty ****ing awesome cast in comedy terms, retrospectively.

But Ricky alone tips the UK version.

 

[GROTTO]

Ricky Gervais > Steve Carell (although he does have some moments)

I think Dwight and Jim make it for me - they are better than Tim and Gareth.

The supporting cast of the US make it pretty close imo.

Some of the best episodes surround the supporting cast, which is where it differs from the UK version. It's also pretty ******* awesome cast in comedy terms, retrospectively.

But Ricky alone tips the UK version.

What I find best about the show is how politically incorrect it is or was and thats barely just 10-15 years ago too.

They were/are hoping for a reboot, but Im not sure it would work in today's PC climate would be awful.

I would love to see Dwight and Jim working together during the Coronavirus pandemic. That would make for some legendary TV.

 

[Pykie]

What I find best about the show is how politically incorrect it is or was and thats barely just 10-15 years ago too.

They were/are hoping for a reboot, but Im not sure it would work in today's PC climate would be awful.

I would love to see Dwight and Jim working together during the Coronavirus pandemic. That would make for some legendary TV.

I think you are right, the politically incorrect stuff is the funniest on re-watch, because it's just so rare these days.

The gay witch hunt, office injury, disability, the carpet, grief counseling, the michael/jan early stuff etc is some of the funniest stuff of first few seasons.

 

[GROTTO]

I think you are right, the politically incorrect stuff is the funniest on re-watch, because it's just so rare these days.

The gay witch hunt, office injury, disability, the carpet, grief counseling, the michael/jan early stuff etc is some of the funniest stuff of first few seasons.

Casual Friday is a classic.

 

[milhouse1]

Good bump! I agree that US seasons 2 and 3 are some of the best television I have seen. Like others have stated, I tried watching the UK version after starting the US one, but couldn't really get into it. It's likely I would have enjoyed the UK one more if I had seen that one first.

The US one does go a bit off the rails in the later seasons, but seasons 2-5 are really good.

 

[Andronicus]

Does anyone else find the change in character with Jan from when she is a senior employee to the parody of herself that she becomes just a little bit too much?

Kevin as in idiot is taken too far as well.

Creed is a great character that provides so many highlights.

 

[GROTTO]

Does anyone else find the change in character with Jan from when she is a senior employee to the parody of herself that she becomes just a little bit too much?

Kevin as in idiot is taken too far as well.

Creed is a great character that provides so many highlights.

Ok my dinner is it on its way.

Just quickly.

Jan - lost the plot when Michael dumped her.

Keven - considered a genius

Creed - is criminal on the run.



There is youtube discussions of all these 3 characters. I will post in here later.

 

[Carbine Chaos]

Does anyone else find the change in character with Jan from when she is a senior employee to the parody of herself that she becomes just a little bit too much?

I don't think Jan became a parody of herself. She was always nuts/damaged goods. The thin veneer of normality peeled away when she was with Michael.

God, the dinner party episode. So. Much. Love.

 

[Macca19]

The dry wit and facial expressions of serious Jan is far better than nutcase Jan

 

[GROTTO]

I don't think Jan became a parody of herself. She was always nuts/damaged goods. The thin veneer of normality peeled away when she was with Michael.

God, the dinner party episode. So. Much. Love.

Ive been in Michael's position before like that with a partner.

When I saw Michael watching TV the size of a large Iphone on the wall and then Jan threw something at it and broke was just funny as f**k.

Ive only recently binged watched that series, the coronavirus timing was not ideal, a year from now, it would have been perfect.

Im sure the Chinese are whipping a new virus as we speak.

 

[Marlowe]

I enjoyed both, but the UK is superior simply because, as with most British sitcoms, it was short and sweet and didn't overstay its welcome. The American version had a great peak but eventually became incredibly watered down.

I also prefer the UK's dry wit and sense of the mundane. There was nothing glamorous about Wernham Hogg. Dunder Mifflin, on the other hand, was a cartoon in comparison.

I think a better American version of the UK Office is Party Down. That was a show that really nailed having a shit job and having to deal with shit co-workers and only lasted two years.

 

[Andronicus]

Ok my dinner is it on its way.

Just quickly.

Jan - lost the plot when Michael dumped her.

To me there was far too much of a change even when they were dating.

The dinner party had some highs, but also some lows that were leaps too far.

 

[Hard Ball Get]

Currently reading Shea Serrano's Office PDF. Pretty decent.