The Office-British Version= Major Letdown

[MachoMyers]

Re: The Office-British Version= Major Letdown

IMO the American version of the office is terrible. The British version IMO is brilliant. I'm starting to think, for the most part, that if you see one version it ruins the other. But I really tried to give the American version a chance but it's just not funny to me. And I hated the British accents to start, and I hate most British humor, and I even hate the theme song...but once it clicked with me it was alot of fun.

First person I've ever heard of that didn't like the US Office.

[EZ Snappin]

Re: The Office-British Version= Major Letdown

First person I've ever heard of that didn't like the US Office.

Make it two. I find it both dumb and condescending - which is something the British original most certainly was not.

I didn't like Seinfeld or Arrested Development either. Or the Family Guy. I'm just a big old *****.

[pk500]

Re: The Office-British Version= Major Letdown

I'm starting to think, for the most part, that if you see one version it ruins the other.

I agree. If I never saw the entire two seasons of the BBC version of "The Office," I'd probably think the NBC version was funny, because it is a humorous show.

But the BBC version is much funnier to me. Darker, more sex-oriented, more biting.

Like Kerplunk, I'm not a huge fan of British humor. But "The Office" clicked with me from the opening minutes of the very first episode. David Brent (Ricky Gervais) is one of the all-time great comic characters on TV.

Take care,
PK

[JayBee74]

Re: The Office-British Version= Major Letdown

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[VDusen04]

Re: The Office-British Version= Major Letdown

I've withheld my opinion on the British Office for some time now because it feels like there's this subtle undercurrent of belief that labeling the British version as being anything short of brilliant somehow reflects upon one's intelligence and taste, or lack thereof. I did not hate the British version, but upon watching both seasons in their entirety, I just did not find them very memorable.

It took me a few episodes to adjust to the tone and I was eventually drawn into the story line, but in the end, I had no real desire to go back and re-watch any episodes or even really reflect upon what I'd watched. It was actually a small chore for me to get through every episode. I wasn't miserable watching them, but they were just kind of happening, without me getting a ton out of it. I can see how others would like the show, but it was tough for me to recognize it as being as undeniably brilliant as many like to insist it is.

[JayBee74]

Re: The Office-British Version= Major Letdown

I've withheld my opinion on the British Office for some time now because it feels like there's this subtle undercurrent of belief that labeling the British version as being anything short of brilliant somehow reflects upon one's intelligence and taste, or lack thereof.

Not at all, I just liked it a lot better than you did.

Do you watch the US series?

[Blzer]

Re: The Office-British Version= Major Letdown

Outside of reading any other post in this thread, it's just a different kind of comedy. That's what they enjoy over there, so to speak. They wouldn't find ours funny in the same way that you wouldn't find theirs funny. Just a matter of opinion as far as what is and isn't funny is all.

[VDusen04]

Re: The Office-British Version= Major Letdown

Not at all, I just liked it a lot better than you did.

Do you watch the US series?

Oh I was not directing that at you, good sir. I think I was just speaking toward my general sense of weird insecurity with not liking the British Office. It seems to be one of those, "Then you must not understand humor very well. It's okay, it's more intelligent than most people are used to" situations when people admit to not enjoying it. Basically, I'm pretty much being dramatic about it.

But to answer your question, I do watch the US series and I've definitely considered the common notion that it's difficult for those to go from watching one version first then the other and being able to appreciate or enjoy the latter. I was cognizant of that possibility going into my British viewing and I tried really hard, but it just wasn't clicking. And again, I didn't hate the British Office, and I'm fond of some of the characters (very late to the Ricky Gervais party) but overall I just didn't feel the genius running through that so many others seem to so readily be able to pick up.

Then again, I wasn't exactly fond of the American Office at first either. Perhaps I'll give the two seasons of the British Office another shot at some point and take my time with each viewing.

[mgoblue]

Re: The Office-British Version= Major Letdown

I find I do much better with British dramas vs. comedies. I do think there's more of a difference in comedy, whereas drama/action can be a bit more universal.

There also is a minor disconnect due to the differences in class structure and humor...Some stuff isn't quite as funny if you don't "get" the social reasoning behind it. I notice that with British stuff sometimes, and I'm sure the Brits notice that stuff with US stuff too.

[trobinson97]

Re: The Office-British Version= Major Letdown

I liked them both a lot. I might even like the British version a little better actually now that I think about it. Less filler. There were a lot of forgettable episodes in the American version simply because of the sheer volume of episodes and there was a noticeable decline in quality after Steve Carrell left (just as I am sure there would have been if the British version continued without Gervais). Because of the short run it had, the British version was able to maintain a high quality throughout. On the flip-side of that though, the British version never had a chance to develop many secondary characters as the American show did. I'm cool with that though.

[JayBee74]

Re: The Office-British Version= Major Letdown

Oh I was not directing that at you, good sir. I think I was just speaking toward my general sense of weird insecurity with not liking the British Office.

Yeah, I know you weren't. I was speaking as Everyposter.

[tanchl]

Re: The Office-British Version= Major Letdown

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

Always has to be one guy in a thread that has to be this way, a non-productive comment, jeez. Longshadow was only initiating a conversation.

I too couldn't get into it, call it shallowness on my part I guess. I was too accustomed to the American version that all I did was compare the two instead of appreciating it (British version) for what it was.

[JayBee74]

Re: The Office-British Version= Major Letdown

Always has to be one guy in a thread that has to be this way, a non-productive comment, jeez. Longshadow was only initiating a conversation.

I too couldn't get into it, call it shallowness on my part I guess. I was too accustomed to the American version that all I did was compare the two instead of appreciating it (British version) for what it was.

Not the greatest comment, but it was posted six years ago, so he gets a pass, LOL.

I thought the David Brent character was funnier than Michael Scott. He was more subtle, less over the top, but funnier.

The supporting cast of the American Office was better, hands down.

[Steven20]

Re: The Office-British Version= Major Letdown

I've just never found Gervais to be all that funny. Even in Extras which I thought was much funnier than The Office he was always the weakest link.

[JayBee74]

Re: The Office-British Version= Major Letdown

I've just never found Gervais to be all that funny. Even in Extras which I thought was much funnier than The Office he was always the weakest link.

LOL, Gervais the weakest link....Does that include the extras in Extras? What an overstatement.