I just finished watching Seasons 1, 2, and 3, which I got off of Netflx. I'm desperately waiting for Season 4 to come out on DVD.
I think it's Season 5 that's on TV now (can anyone confirm this?) but I don't want to watch it because I don't want to have it spoiled... (Jim and Pam...) Gaahhh!! So fustrating!!! They're actually worse than Kaylee and Simon...
Gosh, I'm really addicted to this show now.
Posted by rollainm (Member # 8318) on :
Just watched last Thursday's episode, actually. Yeah, I think it's in its fifth season.
"Jim and Pam..."
Hehe...you just wait.
This is seriously one of the best shows on television right now.
Posted by Carrie (Member # 394) on :
Nope, sorry.
I tried, once. I found it awkward, unfunny and boring. Ah, well. At least I tried. Posted by MattP (Member # 10495) on :
It's my favorite show right now.
Tara: You can find the season 4 episodes online.
Posted by Jeni (Member # 1454) on :
We're four episodes into season 4, and all of them are on nbc.com.
Stanley is my favorite character... I crack up pretty much every time he says a line. Or even gives a look.
Not that I don't crack up at every other line in the show, too.
Posted by Lyrhawn (Member # 7039) on :
quote:Originally posted by Carrie: Nope, sorry.
I tried, once. I found it awkward, unfunny and boring. Ah, well. At least I tried.
If you watched the first season, I'd suggest trying again and starting with the second season. I started on the second season and then went back to watch the first and found it wholly disappointing and unfunny. It CAN be awkward at times since Michael is so...well..Michael, but it's hysterical starting with the second season.
I think this season is the best yet...So far.
Posted by the_Somalian (Member # 6688) on :
quote:Originally posted by Carrie: Nope, sorry.
I tried, once. I found it awkward, unfunny and boring. Ah, well. At least I tried.
I don't like the show too, but only because it pales in comparison to the original.
It's funny noting the differences between the UK and US versions. For instance, in the UK version, the characters look realstic and average--like in real life. In the American version, the majority of the characters are more attractive than their counterparts.
Another glaring difference is that Steve Carrel always comes off as an exaggerated comical character rather than as a realistic person you could have pitty for like with David Brent. And Carrel's character is nowhere near as patheticly human and desperate as Brent. He's merely a wacky boss.
Posted by Tara (Member # 10030) on :
quote: Another glaring difference is that Steve Carrel always comes off as an exaggerated comical character rather than as a realistic person you could have pitty for like with David Brent. And Carrel's character is nowhere near as patheticly human and desperate as Brent. He's merely a wacky boss.
Well, there are some moments here and there when you feel sorry for Michael. For example, there's a place somewhere in Season 2 (I think?) where that woman Carol falls in love with him -- I think it's when he's playing with her kids at the ice rink. He comes off as a genuinely caring and funny guy at some points.
Posted by the_Somalian (Member # 6688) on :
quote:Originally posted by Tara:
quote: Another glaring difference is that Steve Carrel always comes off as an exaggerated comical character rather than as a realistic person you could have pitty for like with David Brent. And Carrel's character is nowhere near as patheticly human and desperate as Brent. He's merely a wacky boss.
Well, there are some moments here and there when you feel sorry for Michael. For example, there's a place somewhere in Season 2 (I think?) where that woman Carol falls in love with him -- I think it's when he's playing with her kids at the ice rink. He comes off as a genuinely caring and funny guy at some points.
That's one of the differences I should've mentioned. David Brent was a total jerk in almost everyway--for instance, in the finale of the first series, it's revealed that he was only out for himself all along and all that talk about caring about his employees was just...talk. Yet despite this you just pity the guy as you see him repeatedly crash and burn (one of the most painful ...and funny...scenes in the show is when in the second series he tries to introduce himself to all the new employees by performing comedy for them, but no one laughs and he gets angry and sits down embarrassed.) In the American version, Michael is almost always a good but wacky person.
Posted by Tarrsk (Member # 332) on :
Michael can be pretty loopy, but throughout the first two (and most of the third) seasons, I found him consistently believable as a human being. He is, however, very different from David Brent- whereas Brent is a douchebag that you can't help but feel sorry for, Michael is a good person who just doesn't have a working filter between his brain and his mouth. When David Brent says something horrifically offensive, I get the feeling that it's because he actually believes it, because he's a mean little man. When Michael Scott says the same thing, it's because he's trying to make his coworkers laugh, and just can't tell the difference between actual humor and cramming his foot down his throat.
In addition, whereas David was depicted as being genuinely incompetent at his job, Michael is consistently depicted as a good salesman, but a terrible boss- not an uncommon situation in real life, and one aspect wherein I think the American version actually beats out the UK version in terms of "realism." Michael's just a guy who got promoted past the position to which he was actually best suited. He's trying the best he can with the limited faculties at his disposal, and he always has the best of intentions (if not always the most mature of dispositions). Sadly, his skill set just doesn't match up with what makes for a good boss. It also doesn't match up with what is necessary to be a likeable human being (at least to your friends/ coworkers/ lovers, not necessarily to those watching your TV show). In that sense, I find Michael to be an extraordinarily tragic character- he tries so very hard, but despite his best efforts, he just can't make it past the deep, deep faults in his personality. Michael is his own worst enemy.
Anyway, I generally think that Season 2 of the American Office is the best season of either show, while Season 3 was erratically good- it had some truly brilliant episodes ("Traveling Salesmen" and "Branch Closing" in particular), but some pretty crappy ones as well. I was worried at the start of the fourth season that they were making Michael and Dwight too zany, but last week's episode eased a lot of my fears. It perfectly nailed the delicate balance between humor and pathos that was the hallmark of Season 2.
[ October 25, 2007, 12:57 AM: Message edited by: Tarrsk ]
Posted by TL (Member # 8124) on :
quote:For instance, in the UK version, the characters look realstic and average--like in real life. In the American version, the majority of the characters are more attractive than their counterparts.
What??
Posted by the_Somalian (Member # 6688) on :
quote:Originally posted by TL:
quote:For instance, in the UK version, the characters look realstic and average--like in real life. In the American version, the majority of the characters are more attractive than their counterparts.
What??
The main actors in the American version are prettier than the main actors in the original. This is because Americans can't tolerate normal looking people on TV.
Edit: Or pobably because tv execs don't like average looking people.
Posted by Lyrhawn (Member # 7039) on :
Really? I think the office is a pretty good mix of unattractive and attractive people.
Posted by erosomniac (Member # 6834) on :
Yeah, pretty much the only remotely attractive female regular I've seen (I've only been through season 1) is Pam, and her barely-above-average physical attractiveness is heavily outweighed by all her frustratingly negative qualities.
Posted by Tarrsk (Member # 332) on :
Heh... I'll defend the American Office to death, but I gotta side with Somalian, at least where Pam is concerned. She's easily the most attractive woman on television right now. But then, I like the "girl next door" look. Posted by the_Somalian (Member # 6688) on :
quote:Originally posted by Lyrhawn: Really? I think the office is a pretty good mix of unattractive and attractive people.
For instance, Gareth Vs. Dwight. Gareth is uglier.
Dawn Vs Pam. Pam is prettier.
Michael Vs David. Michael is more attractive.
Jim Vs Tim. Here we have an equal degree of handsomeness, but clearly Jim has more of a pretty boy look.
Posted by rollainm (Member # 8318) on :
All I know is Creed is super hot.
Posted by Launchywiggin (Member # 9116) on :
Creed is my favorite character. Every line is pure gold.
I have a strong disconnect with people who don't laugh at this show. I've seen every episode more than once.
And--coming from watching the UK version also, I have to say that the American version is more ENJOYABLE than the UK version, whether it's as realistic or not. The UK version was more painful to watch, with fewer laughs from me.
Posted by Lyrhawn (Member # 7039) on :
quote:Originally posted by the_Somalian:
quote:Originally posted by Lyrhawn: Really? I think the office is a pretty good mix of unattractive and attractive people.
For instance, Gareth Vs. Dwight. Gareth is uglier.
Dawn Vs Pam. Pam is prettier.
Michael Vs David. Michael is more attractive.
Jim Vs Tim. Here we have an equal degree of handsomeness, but clearly Jim has more of a pretty boy look.
Pam isn't superhot. I think she's attractive, but I also think part of that is because she's so funny, and I find funny attractive. I think Dwight is fairly unattractive, at which point I think someone being UGLIER than ugly is kind of a goofy assertion. Considering all the pretty people on American television, The Office is a huge abberration from the norm.
Posted by Lyrhawn (Member # 7039) on :
quote:Originally posted by Launchywiggin: Creed is my favorite character. Every line is pure gold.
I have a strong disconnect with people who don't laugh at this show. I've seen every episode more than once.
And--coming from watching the UK version also, I have to say that the American version is more ENJOYABLE than the UK version, whether it's as realistic or not. The UK version was more painful to watch, with fewer laughs from me.
Creed is hilarious. I especially love when Jim sets up his "web page" on MS Word. CreedThoughts or whatever it was. That was hysterically funny.
Posted by the_Somalian (Member # 6688) on :
quote:Originally posted by Lyrhawn:
quote:Originally posted by the_Somalian:
quote:Originally posted by Lyrhawn: Really? I think the office is a pretty good mix of unattractive and attractive people.
For instance, Gareth Vs. Dwight. Gareth is uglier.
Dawn Vs Pam. Pam is prettier.
Michael Vs David. Michael is more attractive.
Jim Vs Tim. Here we have an equal degree of handsomeness, but clearly Jim has more of a pretty boy look.
Pam isn't superhot. I think she's attractive, but I also think part of that is because she's so funny, and I find funny attractive. I think Dwight is fairly unattractive, at which point I think someone being UGLIER than ugly is kind of a goofy assertion. Considering all the pretty people on American television, The Office is a huge abberration from the norm.
I didn't say Pam was super hot. I said that compared to Dawn in the original, Pam is hotter. In general the main characters in the original are homelier, even Gareth when compared to Dwight.
Posted by El JT de Spang (Member # 7742) on :
quote:Originally posted by Lyrhawn:
quote:Originally posted by Launchywiggin: Creed is my favorite character. Every line is pure gold.
I have a strong disconnect with people who don't laugh at this show. I've seen every episode more than once.
And--coming from watching the UK version also, I have to say that the American version is more ENJOYABLE than the UK version, whether it's as realistic or not. The UK version was more painful to watch, with fewer laughs from me.
Creed is hilarious. I especially love when Jim sets up his "web page" on MS Word. CreedThoughts or whatever it was. That was hysterically funny.
It's Ryan that sets up a 'blog' for Creed.
Posted by Phanto (Member # 5897) on :
Perhaps compared to the original the characters are more attractive, but Dwight, Meredith, Stan, Andy Bernard, Jim and so on, almost everyone actually, isn't attractive. David and Ryan are, and so is Jan, and Pam as well, but most of those people are not in the office.
Posted by El JT de Spang (Member # 7742) on :
Has anyone considered the possibility that Americans are more attractive than Brits?
Posted by Jon Boy (Member # 4284) on :
That's racist.
Posted by BandoCommando (Member # 7746) on :
Posted by Lisa (Member # 8384) on :
quote:Originally posted by Lyrhawn:
quote:Originally posted by the_Somalian:
quote:Originally posted by Lyrhawn: Really? I think the office is a pretty good mix of unattractive and attractive people.
For instance, Gareth Vs. Dwight. Gareth is uglier.
Dawn Vs Pam. Pam is prettier.
Michael Vs David. Michael is more attractive.
Jim Vs Tim. Here we have an equal degree of handsomeness, but clearly Jim has more of a pretty boy look.
Pam isn't superhot. I think she's attractive, but I also think part of that is because she's so funny, and I find funny attractive. I think Dwight is fairly unattractive, at which point I think someone being UGLIER than ugly is kind of a goofy assertion. Considering all the pretty people on American television, The Office is a huge abberration from the norm.
Pam is like Baily from WKRP in Cincinnati.
Posted by Zalmoxis (Member # 2327) on :
I don't think that the American version pales in comparison. One immediate point of difference that leaps out is that the secondary cast members in the American version are uniformly superior to the British ones.
Last night's episode was a good example of this, I think.
And last night's 30 Rock was laugh out loud hilarious.
Posted by TL (Member # 8124) on :
I think they took great care when casting The Office to populate the show with people who look like real people. A tradition carried on from the UK version. I don't think in either case anyone said to themselves, "Let's cast ugly people!" Indeed I don't think of any of these people as being unattractive; it adds greatly to the reality of the show. I found it much easier to buy-in because of this. I find the argument that the US version has a more attractive cast to be very surprising. Sounds like a matter of personal taste to me....
Posted by katharina (Member # 827) on :
I loved last night. This show is much, much better at 30 minutes.
Posted by Jon Boy (Member # 4284) on :
Hour-long episodes can be nice on occasion, like for a season finale. Four in a row at the beginning of a season is way too much, I think.
Posted by Phanto (Member # 5897) on :
I wasn't ready for a 30 minute episode, so didn't like last night that much. I got to admit, though, the Dunder Mifflin ad was pretty good.
Posted by Tarrsk (Member # 332) on :
Last night was great, although I think "Money" is still the best episode of the season so far. Michael's director's cut was a perfect example of what I was describing above- it has all the hallmarks of Michael's skewed perspective of reality ("Limitless paper in a paperless world," Stanley-as-ex-convict), but was actually a better concept, as far as selling of paper goes, than the "official" ad. And it worked beautifully as a very sweet conclusion to the episode, with lots of the little character-centric touches that The Office does so well. I can't decide which was better, "Bad news: You have a son. And it's me." or "A second chance to score" (re: Jim).
Posted by Zalmoxis (Member # 2327) on :
Great analysis, Tarrsk.
Posted by LargeTuna (Member # 10512) on :
Some of my favorite office quotes:
"Last year i came to work with my spud gun in a duffle bag, I sat at my desk all day with a rifle that shoots potatoes at 60 PSI. Could you imagine if i was derranged?" Dwight K schrute
"this morning I nocked mysef in the head with the phone" Dwight (Danger) Schrute
"Beer me! hand me that water, I always say beer me, it gets a laugh like a quarter of the time" Andy Bernard
Sort of a guy's night out. A G-N-O, if you will. A guh-no. Actually, it's more like a guy's afternoon in... a G-A-I. A gay. Not... not it's, uh, not gay. It's uh.. just a... it's a bridal shower for guys. A guy shower. An hour-long shower with guys.- Michael Scott
Posted by Zalmoxis (Member # 2327) on :
So what's the difference between a LargeTuna and a BigTuna?
Posted by Morbo (Member # 5309) on :
"I'm declaring bankruptcy!"--Michael, who thinks that's all there is to it.
Posted by LargeTuna (Member # 10512) on :
nothin realy, they are used interchangably
Posted by Tara (Member # 10030) on :
"I am 99% sure he's not the real Ben Franklin."
"Are you nearsighted or farsighted?" "Both. That's why I invented the bifocals." "GAAAAAH!"
Posted by LargeTuna (Member # 10512) on :
Bears, Beets, Battlestar Galactica
Posted by Synesthesia (Member # 4774) on :
I do not seem to like the American version or the British version of the office. Perhaps I hate that kind of humour. I definetly like Coupling, the English version a lot better. That show cracks me up.
Posted by rollainm (Member # 8318) on :
quote:Originally posted by Phanto: I wasn't ready for a 30 minute episode, so didn't like last night that much.
The fact that Scrubs is back more than made up for it.
Posted by Phanto (Member # 5897) on :
Yes, and the weird thing is that the Scrubs episode felt the perfect length. I guess I just got used to the 1 hour office format, so was let down.
Posted by Fyfe (Member # 937) on :
I loathe Ricky Gervais.
So I could never enjoy the UK Office. Ever.
Posted by Tara (Member # 10030) on :
I just watched an episode of the UK Office and I didn't get it at all. It just didn't seem to be funny.
Posted by LargeTuna (Member # 10512) on :
The American office is much easier to get into, if u havnt all ready, try season 2 to start, mostly jokes, little re-occuring story line
Posted by Tara (Member # 10030) on :
I went to NBC.com, and they only seem to have 5 episodes of Season 4...or am I just missing the other ones somewhere? It's a pretty confusing website.
Posted by TL (Member # 8124) on :
quote:I definetly like Coupling, the English version a lot better.
They made an American version of Coupling? When was this? Did it suck? I haven't heard of this.
Posted by Jeni (Member # 1454) on :
We are only 5 episodes into season 4, Tara.
Posted by Tara (Member # 10030) on :
Oh, I thought Season 5 was on.
Posted by Noemon (Member # 1115) on :
quote:Originally posted by TL: They made an American version of Coupling?
Yep.
quote:When was this?
4 or 5 years ago? Possibly longer?
quote:Did it suck?
Did it ever.
Posted by LargeTuna (Member # 10512) on :
I've been extrekely underwhelmed by the past couple seasons of this show. I know that was inevitable and I hope they put an end to it before it just becomes painful. Each new episode has the potential for laugh out loud moments, but the charm from season 2 and even season 3 is gone. There were some feel good episodes but I haven't seen too many lately.
But I thought of this because I saw a pretty positive review of this show by OSC. I know people tend to dissagree with his political views (I don't really pay attention to then) but c'mon he said Toby was one of hus favorite character! gasp!
I do back up that Ryan and Kelly are hillarious.
Anyone else still watch this show? If I could go back in time I would tell myself to register under a different username non-office related. I just use my initials for the other forum I post at.
Posted by Tara (Member # 10030) on :
Hey, I don't even remember making this thread.
As for my current opinion on the Office... Although it's definitely true that it had its high point at Seasons 2 and 3 (especially 2), I still don't think there's been an episode yet that I haven't enjoyed. Certainly it's not as good as it used to be, but the humor is always so spot-on that I pretty much always enjoy watching it. Having the huge ensemble cast keeps it from getting boring. And at this point, I really do care about the characters, such as Jim and Pam, even if them actually being together erases the sexual tension that provided most of the jokes earlier. It's the kind of show where people talk like normal people, not like they're actors on a sitcom, and normal people tend to be funnier than comedians!
I'm glad OSC liked it. I mean, not that I care about his opinions anymore...but... I'm still glad he liked it.
edit: And while I'm here, I'll put in a plug for the British sitcom Outnumbered, which I recently discovered and watched every episode of. It's relevant to this thread because its deadpan humor seems to me like it was in part inspired by the Office. Watch out though, it sucks you in... I feel like I've known these people all my life. The whole first series is on Youtube and for the second series, you have to resort to sketchy websites.
Posted by sinflower (Member # 12228) on :
I'm glad OSC liked it too. I thought OSC's whole new reviews article this week was very good; better than usual. His tribute to Barbara Bova was beautiful and poignant, and he displayed remarkable self awareness when he revealed that his greatest fear is appearing self importantly stupid. And humanizes him to me to know that he does doubt himself, and in such a self-aware manner.
Although I often don't agree with him, I find that when I do agree with him, he tends to articulate my own thoughts and reactions better than I can. He's one of the few people that I disagree with as often as not, but still respect and genuinely like...more so than anyone in my ~real~ life who I disagree with so much, which seems silly, but is a tribute to how well he can express himself in the written word. I can understand why his gay and lesbian friends love him regardless of his views on gay marriage. So that's my little OSC tribute of the day, which isn't terribly relevant to this thread but...whatever Posted by Stephan (Member # 7549) on :
This season had the funniest moment, Dwight's fire drill.
Posted by Ace of Spades (Member # 2256) on :
quote:Originally posted by erosomniac: Yeah, pretty much the only remotely attractive female regular I've seen (I've only been through season 1) is Pam, and her barely-above-average physical attractiveness is heavily outweighed by all her frustratingly negative qualities.
Posted by Tara (Member # 10030) on :
quote:Originally posted by Stephan: This season had the funniest moment, Dwight's fire drill.
You thought that was funny? For me, it was one of the few scenes in the whole show I could barely get through because I was cringing so much. And it ended with Stanley having a heart attack. Dwight's misunderstanding of what qualifies as "danger" is a joke-thread I hope they don't continue much in the future.
Posted by Tara (Member # 10030) on :
quote:Originally posted by sinflower:
Although I often don't agree with him, I find that when I do agree with him, he tends to articulate my own thoughts and reactions better than I can.
I agree. I've realized that I can often predict what things OSC will like, what things he will dislike, and what things he will ignore completely, and I was hoping he would like the Office. I thought it would be the kind of thing he would like, with the genuine human relationships and comments on the human condition and all, but I wasn't sure... I was worried about his touchiness around some issues... I don't know what issues in particular, I just thought whatever issues he might be touchy about probably cropped up somewhere in the Office....
Posted by Stephan (Member # 7549) on :
quote:Originally posted by Tara:
quote:Originally posted by Stephan: This season had the funniest moment, Dwight's fire drill.
You thought that was funny? For me, it was one of the few scenes in the whole show I could barely get through because I was cringing so much. And it ended with Stanley having a heart attack. Dwight's misunderstanding of what qualifies as "danger" is a joke-thread I hope they don't continue much in the future.
I still chuckle about that scene. I've been told I have a disturbing sense of humor however.
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