Agreed. It’s television. You want high art, head to the library. Television is entertainment, spoon fed. Of course NBC didn’t think that no one would notice that P&R and the Office had identical formulas; they sold P&R on the strength of The Office’s proven following. If you want to be angry that NBC decided to make even more money on the back of The Office, feel free, but do not expect it to ever change.
Besides that, “progress” in all media isn’t measured in huge leaps forward; every show, song, book, whatever, is derivative of everything that came before it. If you aren’t familiar or comfortable with this by now, you might consider moving somewhere beyond to reach of mass media. Try the moon.
Good lord. Sorry I brought anything up, as I didn’t realize you’d all take my gripe so personally and seriously. For the record, I didn’t really think I could change the face of TV with anything I had to say here, I just thought I would observe, vent a little and maybe open a discussion on the somewhat sorry state of primetime TV these days. But if no one cares, and no one cares that I care, well, what the hell do I care?
This is why people took it personal. It wasn’t your original gripe, it was the implied accusation that you would have to be stupid to enjoy a show just because its formula has been done before. No one implied you were worse off for NOT liking it…
And when are people going to learn that if you’re gonna play the martyr, you’re gonna have to die?*
*I wish absolutely not one iota of harm on Happy, and I am most definitely not trying to pick a fight with someone I know not from Adam, but his parting shot was a bit too “woe-is-me” to leave untouched.
Plenty of people here are saying they see the similarities between the shows. It’s up to them as individuals to decided wether or not that’s a deal maker or breaker. The points you were making aren’t the problem. It’s just that they don’t need someone telling them whether or not they should care either way. They can do that on their own.
o/ One of these things is not like the others. One of these things doesn't belong. Can you tell me which thing is not like the others by the time I finish this song? o/
I’ve watched P&R from the start. Didn’t like it at first, but it has grown on me. Yes it’s like The Office in style, but the stories are really different and Amy Poehler is different from Steve Carell. Her character, Leslie, is subtly different from Michael Scott. Both their characters lack self-awareness of how people perceived them. Michael is indeed delusional about his personal greatness and is truly buffoonish at times. The Leslie character comes across as just naive (not dumb or stupid) and that’s why she looks up to her politician mom (wonderfully played by Pamela Reed) so much. While Michael is hopeless, I see Leslie as having a chance to mature as the series unfolds. I’m hoping that P&R gets a full season next year, but they need to tinker with the cast a bit. A great strength of The Office is its wonderful cast with well-developed personalities. So far we’ve only had glimpses of what makes the rest of the P&R cast tick. The Tom Haverford and Ann Perkins (Rashida Jones, Jim’s old flame) are great. Aziz Ansari really cracks me up with his lines and delivery. The rest of the cast, not so much.
Eh. I like The Office and I’ve enjoyed P&R so far. Of course I noticed they were similar in their delivery, but since the style worked for me I never considered that I should be upset about it. Besides the stories, settings, and supporting casts are dissimilar enough that they really don’t step on each others toes.
As far as the mockumentary thing, at this point I’ve often forgot that it was even suppose to be that, that there was suppose to be an actual camera crew there. I always just took the confessionals(?) as a matter of exposition; simply a peak into the characters brain, sort of like JD’s daydreams on Scrubs.
What I would like to see is, as **HL **said in post 8, since the Office and P&R universes are so similar, a crossover scene/episode where we see from one show or another’s (or both) perspective, the other camera crew following the other show’s character.
First off, I didn’t realize trying to “convince” people of why they should or shouldn’t care about a television show was a no-no in a forum dedicated to the discussion of, amongst other things, television shows. I was merely observing, commenting, lamenting. But was I also trying to persuade people to see my side? Sure. Isn’t that what we do here?
Second…meh. It ain’t worth it. Sorry if I took a shit on a show you like. Sorry if I came off as a martyr, wasn’t intended. Sorry if I offended anyone with the 30 Rock comment or anything else.
No one has a problem with “your side”. That’s why I encourage you not to watch; Because I don’t care. You seem to care. I quoted that part of your post for a reason. The rest, I can see your point. If it’s enough for you to tune out, I support your decision.
All right dude. Thanks for the encouragement not to watch, and your support. But really, I wasn’t looking for advice on what to do with my television on Thursday nights. I was merely starting a discussion. Maybe I came off as offensive at some point upthread, which wasn’t intended, for which I do apologize. However, I think you’re taking this much more seriously than I ever intended it to be.
Oy vey, can we close this thread?
Hey Happy, I’m with you. When I saw the first episode I thought it was such a clone/rip-off it annoyed the shit out of me immediately. I’ve kept watching in the hopes I’d get over it, but frankly, I don’t think I’ve ever laughed at a single line, so I’m pretty much giving up on it.
Uh, yeah, again thanks. Again, this thread wasn’t meant to be seeking advice or offending fans or anyone else, and again I sincerely apologize for the way I came off upthread, or if I gave you the impression that I needed advice. What more do you want me to say? Are you really that concerned that I’m still going to watch a show I don’t care for? Cuz I really don’t understand why you’re reacting like this.
Oh, Happy, it’s just that they’re so much more mature than you, see? Certainly they’ve never complained about any pop entertainment in their lives, because they can just change the channel/radio station/what-have-you. They only get worked up over matters that affect entire hemispheres. If there’s one thing I’ve learned about posters on the SDMB, it’s that they’re heroic figures who don’t taint themselves by stooping to become embrioled in the petty concerns of the hoi polloi.
You know what, you’re right. P&R viewers are ruining TV. Happy?
BTW, I still haven’t watched the final. You make it seem as if I care that you don’t enjoy something I’m not 100% dedicated to myself. It’s just silly that you would have a BEEF with the people who watch. who “don’t care”.
Hahaha, how ridiculous. I believe you may be confused…
This was Happy’s entire premise: that one would have to be a fool to enjoy a funny show if said funny show was derivative of another. No one said that he didn’t have a right to feel that way, or that we were obviously more mature than him because we didn’t feel that way. We simply said if you don’t like it, don’t watch, but don’t tell us we are stupid for liking it, or that a show can’t be entertaining if it resembles (even greatly) another show.
Re-read the thread. Slower this time, maybe.
And MyFootZZZ, I thought the finale was the best of the season, and it featured very little of the boss guy (who normally carries the show, for me, anyway).
Thank you. You put it better than perhaps I had. I really meant it when I said I’m fine with people on **Happy’s **side. It’s **Happy’s **“added beef” that I felt was wrong.
I just saw the last episode, it was really good. The only thing I don’t like about it is that Ron is actually turning out to be the *least *sleazy of the male characters. Which means they’re all pretty sleazy. I didn’t mind Mark until he hit on Ann.