# The Office has an AMERICAN version? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [April 12, 2006, 12:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-office-has-an-american-version/352300 "2006-04-12T00:00:50Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 18\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![cactus\_waltz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/74df32/32.png) [@cactus\_waltz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cactus_waltz)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2006, 8:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-office-has-an-american-version/352300/41 "2006-04-12T20:20:15Z")
> [@Neurotik](#): > > Monty Python had a few good sketches, but really, when one of your most remembered sketches is men doing funny walks, that’s not really too high on the old comedy scale. Blackadder was OK. Fawlty Towers was funny, but not any more so than half a dozen American sitcoms. Pistols at dawn! ---
**Author:** ![jjimm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba8739/32.png) [@jjimm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jjimm)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2006, 9:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-office-has-an-american-version/352300/42 "2006-04-12T21:18:45Z")
> [@Neurotik](#): > > Fawlty Towers was funny, but not any more so than half a dozen American sitcoms - Cheers, for example, was way funnier. Ooh, gosh. I loved Cheers, but to compare the two. :mad: :eek: > [@](#): > > Absolutely Fabulous was just sophomoric drivel and I’m surprised your country didn’t bury its head in shame that it made its way across the pond. Agree mostly. > [@](#): > > My theory is that the British actually don’t have a developed sense of humor (it was slowed by the Victorian era when you weren’t allowed to laugh), so they still think people talking in funny voices and walking oddly is the height of comedy. Which denies the history of British humour greatly; either that or you’ve missed most of the good stuff. I agree that the really superb humour these days is out of the States, but taken in context, we did lead the field for a couple of decades. Granted, most of it is and always will be shit - Benny Hill et al - but when it’s good, it’s superb. The point of Python is firstly the time in which it occurred, where there was simply nothing like it on earth, secondly the quality and intelligence of the subject matter - the juxtaposition of the esoteric and the mundane - and thirdly, where it comes to silly voices and walks, the humour of the absurd. To explain it would take forever. Think Ionesco. > [@](#): > > Tony Slattery was never particularly funny. The American casts were the best part of even the British run of Whose Line. Agreed. Mike McShane & Greg Proops in particular. I’ve still got a crush on Josie Lawrence, though. ---
**Author:** ![Merijeek](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f05b48/32.png) [@Merijeek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Merijeek)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2006, 10:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-office-has-an-american-version/352300/43 "2006-04-12T22:00:41Z")
> [@jjimm](#): > > Ooh, gosh. I loved Cheers, but to compare the two. :mad: :eek: I still like **Fawlty Towers** , but I have a really hard time watching **Cheers**. Not aged well at all, IMO. -Joe ---
**Author:** ![ISiddiqui](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/97f17d/32.png) [@ISiddiqui](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ISiddiqui)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2006, 2:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-office-has-an-american-version/352300/44 "2006-04-13T02:00:05Z")
Well, as much as I like British comedies (well, some of them), they all pale to the genius that is **Seinfeld** , so its hard to say Brit comedies are better than American ones, since we’ve got the champ. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Martini\_Enfield](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/martini_enfield/32/11123_2.png) [@Martini\_Enfield](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Martini_Enfield)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2006, 2:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-office-has-an-american-version/352300/45 "2006-04-13T02:31:46Z")
> [@Neurotik](#): > > That’s ridiculous. Monty Python had a few good sketches, but really, when one of your most remembered sketches is men doing funny walks, that’s not really too high on the old comedy scale. I am nearly speechless at the utterance of this foul Blasphemy! :eek: Just you wait till the Spanish Inquisition gets here! Then you’ll have to spend hours in The Comfy Chair- with only a cup of tea at 11 o 'clock or so- because no one expects The Spanish Inquisition! 😃 Seriously though, I didn’t think Cheers was that great. As someone else said, it hasn’t aged all that well… and that’s true of a lot of American sitcoms, IMO. I’ve long had this theory that British Humour is something you either “Get” or you don’t- and you’ll find it a LOT easier to “Get” if you’re from the UK, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, Ireland, and even South Africa. Naturally, people from other places can “Get” it, but members of the Commonwealth/Former British Empire get a +3 bonus to their BritCom Appreciation Proficiency. 😉 And yes, there are people in the Commonwealth who don’t “Get” British humour, but they are sad, lonely people, whose lives know no joy because they cannot appreciate the sublime wit of Blackadder, nor the hilarious absurdity which is The Colonel warning the viewer that the film is getting Silly (and a bit suspect), nor be entertained by The Goodies starting their own Pirate Radio Station & Post Office, or becoming Scouts and extorting money from people NOT to do “jobs”… I pity those people. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Rachael\_Rage](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/71c47a/32.png) [@Rachael\_Rage](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rachael_Rage)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2006, 1:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-office-has-an-american-version/352300/46 "2006-04-15T01:23:22Z")
> [@Equipoise](#): > > Oy, I have to agree. **Office Space** , while not always laugh-out-loud hilarious, has great dry humor and gets funnier to me every time I see it. It’s not a _great comedy_ but it’s highly amusing. It’s one of the most quotable movies out there too (at least, to other Office Spacers). > > It like, I’ll never trust Ebert’s negative opinion of quirky comedies because he just didn’t get **Raising Arizona** or **Oh Brother Where Art Thou?** or **Life of Brian**. He may be my Go To guy for classic movies, but not comedy. He didn’t ‘get’ **Harold and Maude** , **Blue Velvet** or **Fight Club** , either, three dark comedies (some may disagree, but I definitely think they fit there) which are some of my all-time favorite movies. So, no, I don’t listen to his advice on comedies much. That said, BBC’s **The Office** fits squarely in my comedy sweet spot. I absolutely adore it, and after renting the 2-season-plus-finale set and watching the whole thing, I ran out and bought it and watched it all again. Twice. IMO it’s one of the top situation comedies _ever_ made - **Arrested Development** is a contender as well. I agree that **Office Space** is highly amusing if not among the greats. It’s one I would always enjoy watching, but don’t feel a great need to own. If I got it as a gift, for example, I’d be happy. I’ve mostly avoided the US version of The Office just because I heard the verbatim pilot was just horrendous. But then I started hearing good things about it. I’ve caught a couple of episodes since (including “the Dundies” _twice_, for some reason) and thought they were pretty funny. The cast (especially Steve Carrell, duh) does a great job, though I find “Pam and Jim” much less entrancing than “Dawn and Tim.” But I agree with above sentiments that the humor is much closer to **The Office** (BBC) than that of **Office Space**. ---
**Author:** ![Silentgoldfish](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e36b37/32.png) [@Silentgoldfish](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Silentgoldfish)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2006, 5:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-office-has-an-american-version/352300/47 "2006-04-15T05:30:48Z")
> [@Elza B](#): > > True. I did like him better in the British version, but I think it was because I adored the British comics more as well (Josie…was it Caroline?..was head over heels any woman that ever appeared on the US version). Still, I don’t think anyone touches Tony Slattery in terms of Whose Line. > > E. This is a weird phenomenom. I’m not going to say that all American women suck at improv but the English women on Whose Line are actually funny, wheras the American (and Canadian) women on seem to be around so that they’ve got the occasional woman on, and not because they’re as funny as the men. ---
**Author:** ![Operation\_Ripper](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/34f0e0/32.png) [@Operation\_Ripper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Operation_Ripper)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2006, 10:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-office-has-an-american-version/352300/48 "2006-04-15T10:22:40Z")
With respect fellow, how can you be so literate yet so ignorant? It’s freakin’ won a Golden Globe and has had tons of pub heaped on it! Almost like saying “There’s a show on TV called CSI?” ---
**Author:** ![Silentgoldfish](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e36b37/32.png) [@Silentgoldfish](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Silentgoldfish)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2006, 10:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-office-has-an-american-version/352300/49 "2006-04-15T10:42:22Z")
Golden what? ---
**Author:** ![Martini\_Enfield](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/martini_enfield/32/11123_2.png) [@Martini\_Enfield](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Martini_Enfield)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2006, 10:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-office-has-an-american-version/352300/50 "2006-04-15T10:50:14Z")
> [@Operation Ripper](#): > > With respect fellow, how can you be so literate yet so ignorant? It’s freakin’ won a Golden Globe and has had tons of pub heaped on it! Almost like saying “There’s a show on TV called CSI?” It’s worth mentioning that The US version of the Office lasted 3 episodes in Australia. It rated so poorly Channel Ten pulled it, and AFAIK it’s never been on again… so yeah, there are heaps of people in Australia who could, in all honestly, ask the same question as the OP. Just sayin’… ---
**Author:** ![msmith537](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d9b06d/32.png) [@msmith537](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/msmith537)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2006, 1:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-office-has-an-american-version/352300/51 "2006-04-15T13:16:30Z")
Out of curiousity do those people who dont get The Office or Office Space actually work in an office? Part of the appeal of these shows and movies is that people actually relate to the characters and plots. I can personally relate to Peter sitting idle at his desk 90% of the time while avoiding bullshit from 8 different managers. I know how Ryan the Temp feels as a B-school intern working for some imbecilic boss who doesn’t appear to know the first thing about running a bussiness. I also recognize in Michael Scott a pathetic incompetent boss who thinks drinks and parties is the best way to inspire leadership. In general, I’m not a huge fan of Britcoms. Holly Grail and Shaun of the Dead were funny and I´ve chuckled at episodes of Red Dwarf. In general the basic formula for Brittish comedy is some guy dryly keeping a stiff upper lip as his world or situation gets more and more outrageous and bizarre and then he finally flips out. ---
**Author:** ![Operation\_Ripper](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/34f0e0/32.png) [@Operation\_Ripper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Operation_Ripper)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2006, 1:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-office-has-an-american-version/352300/52 "2006-04-15T13:54:59Z")
> [@Martini Enfield](#): > > It’s worth mentioning that The US version of the Office lasted 3 episodes in Australia. > > It rated so poorly Channel Ten pulled it, and AFAIK it’s never been on again… so yeah, there are heaps of people in Australia who could, in all honestly, ask the same question as the OP. > > Just sayin’… D’oh! Strike my previous post in that case, didn’t catch that he was located in Oz. Damn my ignorance. :smack: ---
**Author:** ![Martini\_Enfield](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/martini_enfield/32/11123_2.png) [@Martini\_Enfield](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Martini_Enfield)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2006, 3:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-office-has-an-american-version/352300/53 "2006-04-15T15:24:33Z")
> [@Operation Ripper](#): > > D’oh! Strike my previous post in that case, didn’t catch that he was located in Oz. Damn my ignorance. :smack: No, the OP’s located in Los Angeles- which, unless there’s been a major change in the global geopolitical situation whilst I was off watching _Lawrence Of Arabia_, means he’s in the US. The point I was making was that it’s entirely possible for people to be completely unaware of “amazing” or “great” TV shows simply because they don’t watch much TV, or the shows aren’t on in their area/country. People on the SDMB quite frequently mention TV shows I’ve never _heard_ of, which usually sends me off to [TV.com](http://TV.com) or the IMDB to work out what the hell they’re talking about. To put it another way: My friends think I’m some sort of TV guru because I’ve seen (and am a big fan of!) _My Name Is Earl_, which isn’t even on Pay TV here yet. Similarly, when I’m doing my “Mentok, The Mind Taker” impression, you’d have to have been watching SBS on a Thursday Night last year to know I was referring to _Harvey Birdman: Attorney At Law_, and even fewer are aware of the televisual brilliance that is _Duckman_. I’d never heard of _Everybody Loves Raymond_ until I moved to Australia (and the show’s title is clearly wrong- I can’t stand the show), _The West Wing_ didn’t end up on TV here until 4 seasons after it started, _Arrested Development_ has never been on free to air TV here (AFAIK), and I’ve never once seen an episode of _Saturday Night Live_ on TV in either Australia or NZ. (Disclaimer: I don’t have Pay TV, so I don’t keep up with what’s on Austar/Foxtel unless I’m at my parent’s place.) It’s amazing how something as “Universal” as Television can still be surprisingly “local” at the same time… ---
**Author:** ![lobstermobster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lobstermobster/32/10033_2.png) [@lobstermobster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lobstermobster)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2006, 4:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-office-has-an-american-version/352300/54 "2006-04-15T16:09:45Z")
oh man I don’t think I can even begin to respond to the OP. The degree to which the sarcastic narrative is overdone tells me right away that me and this guy are NOT going to agree on what’s funny. I hate to be a predictable bitch but can we all focus on writing threads that are more concerned with the subject matter and less with being cute and clever? aaahhhhh :mad: ---
**Author:** ![Rigamarole](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/77aa72/32.png) [@Rigamarole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rigamarole)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2006, 4:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-office-has-an-american-version/352300/55 "2006-04-15T16:48:28Z")
> [@lobstermobster](#): > > I hate to be a predictable bitch but can we all focus on writing threads that are more concerned with the subject matter and less with being cute and clever? > > aaahhhhh :mad: No, no I don’t think so sargeant. I like when people actually _listen_ to (well… here, read) what I have to say and I’ve found that presentation makes a hell of a difference. I’m still trying to find my preferred style, so thanks for the feedback. But I won’t water myself down for you (or anyone for that matter) so hate it or love it, but at least you READ it. 😛 ---
**Author:** ![MovieMogul](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f08c70/32.png) [@MovieMogul](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MovieMogul)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2006, 5:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-office-has-an-american-version/352300/56 "2006-07-11T17:17:13Z")
From [IMDB](http://www.imdb.com/news/wenn/#celeb11): > [@](#): > > Original Stars To Visit ‘The Office’ > > The British stars of the original The Office show are set to visit the US version of the hit comedy to shoot cameo roles. Ben Silverman, who executive produces the American version of The Office for NBC, claims employees of Slough, England paper company Wernham Hogg could find themselves sharing an office with Scranton, Pennsylvania company Dunder Mifflin. Silverman tells the New York Post newspaper, “There’s a lot of love between (the casts and crews) of the two versions of the show. Expect some cameos from the UK paper company.” While Silverman refuses to name which stars will be appearing, he does say the show’s creator Ricky Gervais, who played cringe-worthy boss David Brent in the UK version, won’t be on the US comedy anytime soon. He says, “We’re going to save the big man for now.” ---
**Author:** ![Trunk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/87869e/32.png) [@Trunk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Trunk)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2006, 5:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-office-has-an-american-version/352300/57 "2006-07-11T17:33:57Z")
[QUOTE=ArchiveGuy] From [IMDB](http://www.imdb.com/news/wenn/#celeb11): [/QUOTE] Wow. The thought of Gareth and Dwight having a conversation. . .just wow. ---
**Author:** ![BiblioCat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ed8c4c/32.png) [@BiblioCat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BiblioCat)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2006, 6:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-office-has-an-american-version/352300/58 "2006-07-11T18:26:49Z")
[QUOTE=msmith537] Out of curiousity do those people who dont get The Office or Office Space actually work in an office? Part of the appeal of these shows and movies is that people actually relate to the characters and plots. [/QUOTE] This is exactly what I was going to say. I think both _The Office_ and _Office Space_ are laugh-out-loud funny, but my husband doesn’t care for either of them. He sees the humor, but just doesn’t quite _get it_ on the same level that I do. He’s never worked in an regular office setting - and that’s the sticking point, IMO. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-office-has-an-american-version/352300.md?page=2)