LOL @ David is always smiling and trying to get a laugh but fails.
David's character is just so much better than Michael. Gareth is better than Dwight. And the UK version of Kevin is better as well. The reason why the UK version is better is because its genuine and not forced. David was rightfully fired. However Michael never got fired, but quit and got rehired with bonuses, how that sound?
1. "Gervais will never better this, most of Extras" In response to Reply # 0
was painful/annoying.
The Office is perfect.
Don't think you mentioned the main reason why I think it's better than the US version, Tim and Dawn aren't amazingly annoying like Jim and Pam are (from what I've seen of J&P anyway). I cant watch it because of them.
Gervais and Merchant handled their story just right and it never got in the way of Brent's story.
2. "Yeah, another good reason" In response to Reply # 1 Sun Jun-14-09 06:00 PM by Wordup
>was painful/annoying. > >The Office is perfect. > >Don't think you mentioned the main reason why I think it's >better than the US version, Tim and Dawn aren't amazingly >annoying like Jim and Pam are (from what I've seen of J&P >anyway). I cant watch it because of them. > >Gervais and Merchant handled their story just right and it >never got in the way of Brent's story.
I'm curious though, in what ways are Jim and Pam annoying to you?
Particularly I just find Pam annoying.
I like how Tim and Dawn wind up Gareth.
LOL @ white female liking that black dude. Black dude should've gave her the dick. Then again, she seems a bit psycho.
5. "RE: Yeah, another good reason" In response to Reply # 2 Sun Jun-14-09 06:18 PM by weston24
Mainly I think I have a problem with all their dramas being overdone and a major focal point just for the sake of this big romantic story that we're supposed to care about. Tim and Dawn felt genuine and we never saw them together really, just Tim being made to look stupid and us feeling sorry for him unitl the last five minutes.
Really it's probably just because I'm British and dislike the typical American sitcom romance I've seen replace a very well written and genuine feeling story that I saw first.
As for Extras, I liked quite a few episodes, but some of the disability stories got too painful and many of the cameos were too ridiculous and over the top for me to enjoy. Sometimes it worked for me (Ross Kemp, Les Dennis), sometimes it didn't (Daniel Radcliffe from memory).
The story wasn't as good either, I just really disliked Andy by the end as he constantly shat on his only friend (who I didn't like either for her idiotic, Kramer-like ruining everything ways).
18. "RE: Yeah, another good reason" In response to Reply # 5
In regards to the Tim & Dawn storyline, I think what made it great writing is that practically nothing was said between them - it was really just gazes from across the office that gave their feelings away, and not the typical Tim complaining to his friend that he really likes Dawn, etc.
stravinskian Member since Feb 24th 2003 12698 posts
Sun Jun-14-09 07:08 PM
6. "Gervais & Merchant are in early production on a movie" In response to Reply # 0 Sun Jun-14-09 07:09 PM by stravinskian
called Cemetery Junction (previously titled The Man From the Pru). They're co-writing and co-directing, like on The Office. Gervais and Ralph Feinnes will star. I think he blogs about it pretty regularly at rickygervais.com .
and also, in the US I don't think they would have been able to take away sympathy from the main character completely the way they did in the UK(except for the end of the series).
13. "Another plus was that there were regular office workers" In response to Reply # 0
Not everyone on the show was loony. There were office workers who just did their job without any complaints. Sure I cant remember their names but they were effective in making the show more enjoyable. Its not all psych-wardy.
14. "The biggest reason why the UK version is better is the camera work" In response to Reply # 0
The UK version is not shot sitcom style. It's shot documentary style. The US version has too many impossible camera shots for a "fly on the wall" mockumentary. I saw one episode where they even followed Jim and Pam into Jims bedroom. And often there are just too many cameras, reminding you that you're in a film studio and not an office.
Eventually I got used to it, but I preferred the UK versions approach.
17. "The UK version is perfection through-&-through" In response to Reply # 0
I've only seen about 4 episodes of the US version, which I think is really good. It's hard to get into at first because making the comparisons is just inevitable - I remember watching it for the first time and spending the whole time just hunting out the UK equivalents: "that's Gareth; that's Tim; Is THAT one Dawn, or is THAT one Dawn?" lol.
>But is very tough to watch in a awkward uncomfortable, yet >side splitting funny way. > >http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W2c5j01Z6yY > > >Runs out of post with Tina Turner playing in background.
When he came back and complained about the lady turning it off . . . . wow!!!
27. "I'd really forgotten how good this show is" In response to Reply # 0
Being British, I obviously watched this first and loved every minute of it. But recently I finally overcame my demons and accepted the american show for what it is, and found out it was fucking brilliant too. I was beginning to think it matched the UK office, but reading through this and spending some time on youtube I remembered how good this is. Don't get me wrong, I do love the American show, its a different beast, but it has to be said this show was a revolutionary phenomenon. Probably the best comedy made in the last 10 years in my book.
30. "that was the whole thing with the Special" In response to Reply # 28
S2 made Neil a likable guy who would be "normal" boss. but in the Christmas episodes he really came off prickish, which kind of made Brent look good in a way.
32. "No, he started being a prick when he started inquiring about Davids date" In response to Reply # 31
Forcing David into looking into internet dating.
I remember one scene where he asked David "So should we still get you two tickets for the dinner then?" and then glances with a cocky smile at the camera.
All in all, it was in character since there's no way he could have ever thought highly of David anyway.
************************ You must not know bout me, you must not know bout me, to the left, to the left (C) "Killa" Camron
34. "*walks in to post to show my appreciation*" In response to Reply # 0 Fri Jun-19-09 06:00 PM by Silky1
yeah, the best version of, "The Office". yep, i said it.
silk. later
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It is almost too difficult to compare the shows. One of the key reasons why the UK version is so revered is because it has so few episodes and each one is gold. The U.S. version now going into its sixth season has allowed the characters to become fully fleshed out and you know much more about each person in the U.S version. Also the UK Office actually takes place in an office for pretty much the entire length of each episode while the U.S. one goes outside of the office and turns into more of a sit-com.
I think seasons 2, 3 and some of 4 are gold and then i think it started seriously falling off.
In the first season in the U.S. they try and make Dwight too much like Gareth in the UK and its not until the second season that Dwight becomes the unique character that Rainn Wilson has made him. The UK version has no-one like Rashida Jones, damn!
A mate of a mate who i know is Ricky in season one of the UK version but his character got written out i think or went on to work on other projects.
The UK version has Chris Finch who was so scary because he is such a life like person and every British person knows a cunt like him. Great acting though. They didn't make enough of his counterpart in the U.S. - i remember a bald guy for an episode or two but he wasn't memorable.
One of my favourite scenes in the UK version includes Mathew Holness, a very talented UK comedian known for Garth Merenghi's Dark Place and as the faux folk singer Merriman Weir. He only did one scene for the Office and this is it
38. "Bend Them'all over" In response to Reply # 36
Classic scene with a great example of embarassing David Brent behaviour: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4_7bz3gj2bI Talking about how he would treat the female members of Irish band The Corrs.
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