An office worker in Scranton wouldn’t make that pun because it’s beneath them or above them?
Because, that’s right about on the level that some of the doofuses (who know what flan is) I work with would think was funny. They’d say it. Then, they’d email 10 people about the pun they made on “flan”, and then they’d come by my office to see if I got the email.
Then, one of the guys who got the email would spin his gears all night long to top it, and then come into the office first thing in the morning and go, “are you PUDDING on another pot of coffee?”
Just how stupid do you think Scranton office workers are? It certainly is a pun we (yes, I work in an office in Scranton) would make, even if half of the group’s knowledge or awareness of a trifle comes from an episode of Friends. Scranton also has a decent sized Hispanic population, so a flan isn’t foreign (ha! get it?) to us, either. Don’t assume that because your little corner of the world may not be familiar with it, we hicks in Scranton have never heard of it. Yogurt isn’t the only culture in town here. We have many schools, numerous universities, two newspapers, and even some libraries with actual books in them.
I’m not saying we walk around firing off the “perfect pun” all day long, but we get it when someone refers to something a little uncommon. We don’t need everything dumbed down. But when watching a network sitcom, we kind of expect it.
Whoa, somebody’s a little sensitive! I never said or implied anybody was stupid or ignorant, just that a pun using “flan” is unlikely to come out of the mouth of a non-Latino in that environment, nor expect it to be appreciated. It wasn’t in any way a judgment. It was about common usage.
I don’t use a lot of Yiddish words myself; it’s not because I’m stupid, or because I don’t know many serviceable Yiddish words. It’s because they just aren’t part of my day-to-day life, just as flan isn’t for the denizens of The Office. Especially in a juxtaposition with Jell-O.
FWIW (very little, I admit), my local paper’s TV reviewer said the show is surprisingly good, especially the original episodes, where they’re not redoing the British scripts line for line. He said Steve Carell isn’t as funny as Ricky Gervais, but other than that, he was pleasantly surprised.
It’s enough to get me to tape tonight’s episode instead of avoiding it like the plague.
[aside]I think I have an idea who you are IRL, and if I’m right, know that my son is indirectly named after you. Not for any reason other than I liked the first name, and it fits well with my last name. Gives him a strong Irish sounding name.[/aside]
[aside] Ah! You’ve got the drop on me then, Casey. Would you happen to be an associate of one Frumpy Jones? Him’s the only other Scrantonian Doper I know.[/aside]
I’m not sure. I saw how much they borrowed and thought the idea of a guy who was a voluteer sherrif was not nearly as funny as weekend warrior, obsessed with all things military, Gareth. Garath was far creepier and loserish than this fellow. He lacked the “guy who spends too much time alone” factor.
There were a few laughs but the secretary’s reaction to being “fired” wasn’t nearly as poignant as when it was done on the BBC series. I think its missing a little versimilitude. Even the documentary feel is off.
I will give it a few episodes before i give up on it though. It may find its own footing. Besides despite its defecencies it’s better than any other Sit com out there. Good luck to it withoit a laugh track will it survive Joe six pack?
I’m not a fan… of the comparisons being set here. I believe the first couple of shows are direct “translations” of the original, but then it’s off on its own. I’m looking forward to that. Tonight’s show was not great, but it wasn’t bad. Pam’s firing was the highlight for me. Watching Steve Carrell’s reaction, his nearly cracking up without realizing the damage he’s doing was brilliant.
I liked the 6 Million Dollar Man stunt. Just because he kept doing it, and looking back, hoping it was funnier. It’s clear this guy will be more of a prick than an oaf.
I thought it was pretty funny as well. Like was said though, let’s see what they do when they don’t rely on the original British episodes and write their own new ones.
Well that’s a first!