The Office-British Version= Major Letdown

[longshadow11]

I love The Office, so when I saw the BBC version on sale at BB I thought I would give it a shot, especially seeing all of the glowing reviews on Amazon.com. Man, am I ever disappointed. I can't fathom how anyone can say that the British version is funnier than the U.S. version. One problem is I can't understand half of what they say due to their accents. The humor is much more crude; it is definitely a show I can't watch with my family. It's just not very funny to me.

What am I missing? I have watched three episodes, and to tell you the truth, I wish I could return it.

[Admiral50]

Re: The Office-British Version= Major Letdown

Your missing a funny bone

I loved every episode of the UK Office. But in fairness, it does get better after a few episodes in. So much better overall than the US version.

The boss (David Brent) and Tim (their Jim) are better than their US versions with Gareth (Dwight) about equal but yeah overall it just works better.

Although some of the jokes and shows are almost identical, their is a different style and even mood in the office, so there's nothing wrong with you if you don't get it.

[Brandwin]

Re: The Office-British Version= Major Letdown

I tried, couldn't get into it.

[skitch]

Re: The Office-British Version= Major Letdown

Sell it on eBay if you don't like it.

[Hootiefish]

Re: The Office-British Version= Major Letdown

I love The Office, so when I saw the BBC version on sale at BB I thought I would give it a shot, especially seeing all of the glowing reviews on Amazon.com. Man, am I ever disappointed. I can't fathom how anyone can say that the British version is funnier than the U.S. version. One problem is I can't understand half of what they say due to their accents. The humor is much more crude; it is definitely a show I can't watch with my family. It's just not very funny to me.

What am I missing? I have watched three episodes, and to tell you the truth, I wish I could return it.

British humor is very dry and is not everyone's cup o' tea. If nothing else, respect it for laying the groundwork for the American version.

[Defel]

Re: The Office-British Version= Major Letdown

The boss (David Brent) and Tim (their Jim) are better than their US versions with Gareth (Dwight) about equal but yeah overall it just works better.

That's how I would rate them too.

US has a better Pam character, but the UK David Brent and Tim are better. The roleplay workshop episode is probably the funniest thing I've seen.

"There's been a rape up there!"

"There is no room 362 in this hotel...Sometimes the complaints will be false."

[longshadow11]

Re: The Office-British Version= Major Letdown

I think Michael Scott is much funnier than David Brent. I do like Tim as much as Jim. Dwight just blows Gareth away. I have to agree that you need to like British humor to like BBC's The Office. Apparently I don't like British humor. It's probably an aquired taste.

I think the Pam character in the British version is sexier. Not sure why.

[p_rushing]

Re: The Office-British Version= Major Letdown

I liked it, I didn't get some of it, but it was good.

[pk500]

Re: The Office-British Version= Major Letdown

Your missing a funny bone

I loved every episode of the UK Office. But in fairness, it does get better after a few episodes in. So much better overall than the US version.

The boss (David Brent) and Tim (their Jim) are better than their US versions with Gareth (Dwight) about equal but yeah overall it just works better.

Although some of the jokes and shows are almost identical, their is a different style and even mood in the office, so there's nothing wrong with you if you don't get it.

Agreed. It's much funnier than the U.S. version, which still is a funny show. But every time I try to watch the NBC version, I think, "Brent did it better," or "Gareth is much funnier than Dwight," etc., etc.

The UK version is darker, more sexually suggestive and more cruel, to be honest. Maybe that's why I like it a hell of a lot more than the vanilla US version.

It's definitely an acquired taste, though. And it's not a "British humor" thing for me: I've never liked Monty Python movies, for example.

Take care,
PK

[pk500]

Re: The Office-British Version= Major Letdown

That's how I would rate them too.

US has a better Pam character, but the UK David Brent and Tim are better. The roleplay workshop episode is probably the funniest thing I've seen.

"There's been a rape up there!"

"There is no room 362 in this hotel...Sometimes the complaints will be false."

And don't forget "Free love on the free love highway ... She's gone!"



Take care,
PK

[ESPNdeportes]

Re: The Office-British Version= Major Letdown

Yeah, I tried to watch it but couldn't understand what they were saying.

[forensicd]

Re: The Office-British Version= Major Letdown

I started out watching US version, then went and did a marathon viewing of all the UK episodes. Hands down, UK is brilliant. Some of the best characters I have seen in a long time on TV. It takes baout 4 episodes to really get into it, then it is just amazing. Give it a shot, you may love it in the end. I was about to give up on it, thinking that the US version was superior, but then it all hit me like a brick wall how great it is.

[MC Fatigue]

Re: The Office-British Version= Major Letdown

There was a huge article on MSN about this. It's basically because US office life is extremely different from British office life. So is the humor and way people handle themselves.

It's not funny to you, because you just don't get the British humor - and a lot of the stuff will fly over your head because it just doesn't happen like that in the US.

They talked about scenes in episodes and said that basically in the US it was hilarious, but in the UK it would just be plain stupid and make no sense. Same the other way around - the things they did in the UK version just wouldn't make sense in a US environment.

It's the same reason a lot of people in the UK hate the US version. Or why people in Germany don't find the French one funny... etc, etc.

None of the versions are really any funnier than another - it's a different sort of humor.

[calcutta]

Re: The Office-British Version= Major Letdown

I've been watching the entire British version this past week (only 2 seasons of 6 eps each plus two specials btw) and it was brilliant.

Gareth trying to pick up the blonde Swindon girl in Series 2 was the best haha.

[MachoMyers]

Re: The Office-British Version= Major Letdown

The Office is my favorite show but like you I didn't really dig the UK version.

On that note, Ricky Gervais' latest show Extras is mindblowingly good and every The Office fan deserves to check it out.