The Office

Television Forum

Anyone see it? NBC, now on Tuesday's. Not the original BBC version, this is the new American version.

I thought it was great.

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It airs tonight for me. I'm gonna catch it. Steve Carell (is that his name?) is really funny in a kinda quirky way that's all his own. He was on Leno last night, along with hottie Rosario Dawson.

Yeah, Steve Carrell is comedy. I liked him on The Daily Show, then he really was great in 'Bruce Almighty'. Hopefully this show takes off.

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It happens often. I remember even Three's Company was a rip off of Man About The House

What's the American version like? I hope I get to catch it sometime soon (if it's as funny as the english version, which cracks me up to no end)

More info. about the show:

"A docu-reality parody about modern American office life, 'The Office' delves into the lives of the workers at Dunder Mifflin paper supply company in Scranton, Pennsylvania. Regional manager Michael Scott (Steve Carell) is the documentary tour guide, and believes he is the office funnyman, a fountain of business wisdom and his employees’ cool friend. He has no clue that his employees tolerate his inappropriate behavior only because he signs their paychecks. Pam Beesly (Jenna Fischer) is the office receptionist who bears the brunt of Michael’s routines. The bright spots in Pam’s day are conversations with Jim Halpert (John Krasinski), a sales rep with a good sense of humor. Jim shares his work space with Dwight Schrute (Rainn Wilson), the arrogant assistant to the regional manager."

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Yeah, looks exactly the same. Cracks me up that it has that dork who played Arthur in 6 feet under in it

Even the English version of the show is hard to get/understand, so a lot of people may miss what possibly could be funny about it, but it cracked me up. I guess I'll check it out in the next couple of days, if I can.

The format is the same, Gabo? Camera work and all?

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I haven't seen the camera work yet, but both seem to be a doco-styled sit com. I looked the show up on tvtome, and they had some quotes which are from the original series ("A young Guatemalan guy came to me and said, `Mr. Scott, would you be the godfather of my child?' Wow, wow. (Pauses) Didn't work out in the end. We had to let him go. He Sucked." is a good example, though in the English version he said "he was rubbish" and the guy was greek, I think). And the stapler in the jello happened in the english version too. Though it seems they added a few Americanizations (like "you've been X-ed")...

So look out for some of the funnier jokes from the English version:

keep a listen for them

"Do you like curry"? ROFL!!!

The season finale already? What the hell?

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That was quick

I've downloaded the first two episodes, and I'll probably give them a go this weekend. If it's as funny, or even half as funny, as the english version, I'll get the rest (which doesn't seem to be many.....)

Yeah, I guess NBC only ordered a handful of episodes. No news on whether it will be renewed.

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Let me ask you, in the finale, did the "boss" get offered the district supervisor job (or something similar), then accepts it, but then causing his office to close down and people to lose their jobs... but in the end, fails the medical, therefore doesn't get the job?

The finale is next week. The preview had the guys in the office falling for this new hot chick. Has the making of a good episode.

Last week they played basketball against the warehouse crew. It wasn't overly funny, but solid.

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this show SUCKS
and i can't believe it's coming back...

It doesn't suck, it just presents an off-beat type of humor that people need to grow accustomed to. It probably won't happen in enough measure for the show to last long into the second season, but I applaud the efforts of both the show and the network. I think another factor for why the show probably won't do well, is the feel of the show. It feels different, and the comedy is different than most people are comfortable with. Too bad, because it does offer a different perspective as to what a comedy show can be about, and how it can be structured.

i can't BELIEVE you told about Gilmore Girls!

IT'S CALLED A SEEEEECRET! should i tell everyone that you watch all my children?

HECK WATCHES ALL MY CHILDREN, AND ALL THE ABC SOAPS

And I'll admit, the ONE episode i enjoyed was the racial sensitivity training one, where he put post its on everyone's forehead, and his was martin luther king jr. hahaha

that was comedy... BUT THAT'S IT

oh stop

you know you watched it. YOU MIGHT STILL WATCH IT, but you watched it.
All those discussions we've had prove me right and you know it...
hahaha

When I was in elementary school my mom used to tape it and I would watch it... happy now?

And you don't have room to talk, FELECITY!

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elementary school..... PFFFT!

you were in the know up to when i was in junior high, that makes you... hmmm, PRETTY OLD and watching it.

and i'll admit it, I LOVE FELICITY. YES I DO. I LOVE IT I LOVE IT I LOVE IT. i have the dvd of the 2nd season,

whatchoo got now? :P

Felicity was only good for appearence by the great Amy Jo Johnson, better known as The Pink Power Ranger.

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So The Office is back on for a second season in the States. What's it like now? Still doing alright?

Yeah, it came back on about a month ago. NBC gave it a full order for the season. It airs Tuesday after the new hit comedy (and my favorite so far this season) My Name Is Earl. Ratings are solid. Steve Carrell is really hot right now, his movie The 40-Year-Old Virgin tore the box office up. The Office should bring solid ratings for a while.

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I see someone has come around and believes HECK now.

The fire alarm one was great, when dude was in his car listening to that song. Excellent.

Or the churchy chick saying how she would burn the Da Vinci Code.

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I liked it when Carrell ran out of the office pushing everyone aside. hahaha

I think they are teasing with that romance between Jim and the receptionist girl too much. Make something happen or get over it. I feel like I'm watching some lame high school drama.

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They got that from the English version, I guess. He'll never end up with her.

Well thanks a lot man! Guess I don't need to watch the show any more!

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the US version could be going for a different angle

I've realized they're really quite different, except for the first episode. But the characters in the US version seem to be similar, but nowhere near the same.

Especially the boss. In the original, the boss... is a guy who tries a bit too hard, like the US one, but unlike the US one, he tries really, exceptionally hard at being PC, while F'ing up in the process. I noticed the US dude doesn't even bother trying

Yeah, he is a bit clueless. I think the show is a riot. Steve Carrell is perfect in his role. The weird assistant guy is great, too.

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So, I live The Office.

That episode where everyone changes the the thermostat is so what I live with every day. Freakin' comedy.

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Oh don't talk to me about thermostats.

You know, my office is like a boiler right now, so I took it up with the facilities woman and she said "yeah, the air con is totally old, we're thinking of replacing it"

When I asked when that would be done, she gave me a look as if to say "how dare you, isn't it enough that we mentioned in passing that we're possibly thinking of the option of maybe making the air conditioner work?"



Haven't bothered watching the US Office for ages.... But it's already surpassed the UK version in terms of number of episodes... good for them

Yeah, British sitcoms aren't known for their longevity.

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Also, British sitcoms usually have 6 episode seasons. Peanuts compared to the 22-24 episodes you get out of the US shows.

True. I liked the BBC version of Coupling, but waiting for a new season is horrible.

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For all you Office fans out there.... don't forget to check out the webisodes they'll have for the summer, starting July 13th. There are no key players in it, I think it's just the "accounting" people in the back - but I think they're funny characters.

Keith in Accounting (from the UK version) was one of the funniest characters. He never said much, but everything he did was a riot.

I'll try and check these webisodes out.

Gabo, you might dig this: I read online that some of the UK Office people will be on the American version next season. No word if they will play their original roles or not. And the main guy, Gervais or whatever, is actually Exec Producer on the American version. He probably won't appear though, at least not with the other guests. Sweet, eh?

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That's cool, I wonder what they will end up doing in the new version.

I knew Gervis was Exec, which is cool. Can't be hating on a brother for making that dough, right?

Seeing the guys from the UK version may be cool. I have to wait for the DVDs, then I'll get to see it.

Dude is probably making more cash on the NBC version that the BBC version. Shows over there don't last long at all. The seasons are shorter and there is a big gap in between them. There was a joke on The Simpsons about the longest running BBC show celebrating it's fourth episode or something like that. Exaggeration, but not too far off the mark.

I liked the BBC 'Coupling' but was tired of watching reruns and waiting for the new season. Sucked.

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Homer: Are you saying you're never going to eat any animal again? What about bacon?
Lisa: No.
Homer: Ham?
Lisa: No.
Homer: Pork chops?
Lisa: Dad, those all come from the same animal.
Homer: Heh heh heh. Ooh, yeah, right, Lisa. A wonderful, magical animal.

Not a Simpsons thread, my friend.

The Office: 2006 Emmy Winner for Best Comedy Series!

Excellent. Sucks Steve Carell got ganked for his. Tony Shaloub for Monk won? Whatever. Figured Kevin James would get the nod before that dink.

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I love Monk... he's so... quirky.

Carell will probably get it next year. The show's only new.

Office has gotten off to a good start so far. Still hilarious. The only big difference is Jim transferred to another office and Pam is single.

We don't see Jim as much, dude is hilarious. I guess that lets other characters get more screen time.

I think Creed is comedy and should be give more lines.

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I always though Jim made the show. The way he's taunting the other dude (Gareth in the English version, forget what his name is in the US one), that stuff's comedy.

This season is really great so far.

Jim is coming back to the Scranton office and the hot chick that likes him is cruising too. He should go after her. She knocks Pam out of the water.

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Heard Ricky Gervais (one of the original creators) will write and direct an episode for the third season. Bet it'll be a good one.

Absolutely. I haven't seen the BBC Office before, but I've heard good things.

So the episode last night was solid. Still say the new chick that is jocking Jim is way better than Pam. But Jim was being all simpy. Weak. The writers can't drag this thing out. 10 years of seeing Ross & Rachel on again/off again is enough. Not to mention getting main characters together later in a series is ratings suicide. Either get them together now or never.

One of the funnier scenes last night had Michael saying hello to all the new people, and the hot chick on Jim's tip comes in and he says, "Wow, you're exotic looking, was your father a G.I.?" Freakin' great.

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was your father a G.I.

From what I've seen, the US version isn't quite as offensive as the English one. Edgy, but it doesn't have the same punch to it that the original did. I remember one episode in season one had some slight racial jokes, but it didn't go all that far.

Does the American version have swearing? (I guess the real question is "is it on cable?")

Ricky Gervais has written an episode, with writing partner Stephen Merchant, for the American version of The Office.

Gervais and Merchant were asked by producers early this year if they would write an episode and the pair were keen to do so, seeing as they're big fans of the American version of The Office. The episode, entitled "The Convict" is set to air on November 30th. The episode sees Michael dealing with the revelation that one of his new employees has a prison record.

No, it's on NBC primtetime. No cussing. Sometimes dramas on at like 10pm or whatever get away with more. They say things like "assel" so it sounds like a-hole.

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Hey G, that Office written by the BBC Office fellas is on tonight. From I hear it's a riot. I will let you know.

I guess Jim is telling one of the new guys how to get with Pam. Odd. Anyway, he's dating the new hotness now.

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Sweet deal. I'm just gonna jump in right in the middle of the season and watch this one, 'cause I know it'll be classic. Still planning on getting seasons 1 and 2 DVDs, so I can watch the show... not sure if I'll actually get off my ass and order them, though.

Did you see it? Not the funniest episode but solid.

The new one tonight looks great. The holiday party episode last year was funny.

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Didn't watch it, no I'm going away soon, so I guess I won't see it until I cop the DVDs.