I'll admit...you kids do comedy better than we yanks but there are a few things you have to check out...Drinky Crow Show, Arrested Development, Mr. Show with Bob and Dave and, of course, CNN.
Keep spitting out Garth Marenghi and The IT crowd....thanks for the laughs.
Jeff in Chicago
Haven't seen the yank version of The Office, don't wish to. I suspect it'd be shite anyway. Rather like if we tried to do our own version of Seinfeld, It'd never work.
Consensus tends to be that it's better than the original.
Quote: Jackson Neil @ February 19 2009, 3:28 PM GMTHaven't seen the yank version of The Office, don't wish to. I suspect it'd be shite anyway. Rather like if we tried to do our own version of Seinfeld, It'd never work.
Yes, as Aaron says, The Office USA should not just be dismissed without watching it first. I came to it with a very aloof 'the UK is better' attitude but it soon turned me around. It is definitely on par with the UK version. Frankly they've done an more genius job than Gervais because they've somehow managed to keep their version fresh and on-going for nearly 100 episodes now. And I say that as a big fan of the original.
Quote: Jackson Neil @ February 19 2009, 3:28 PM GMTHaven't seen the yank version of The Office, don't wish to. I suspect it'd be shite anyway.
Then you're missing out, because series two onwards is gold. I actually prefer it to the original now.
Quote: Jackson Neil @ February 19 2009, 3:28 PM GMTHaven't seen the yank version of The Office, don't wish to.
Watch it and prepare for a serious dose of word eating.
Quote: Mark @ February 19 2009, 4:18 PM GMTYes, as Aaron says, The Office USA should not just be dismissed without watching it first. I came to it with a very aloof 'the UK is better' attitude but it soon turned me around. It is definitely on par with the UK version. Frankly they've done an more genius job than Gervais because they've somehow managed to keep their version fresh and on-going for nearly 100 episodes now. And I say that as a big fan of the original.
Quote: Luke Messimer @ June 13 2007, 11:18 PM GMTThat's very true. I suppose it really just comes down to which country has the more original, intelligent comedy?
What's funny is that England has the two extremes. One comedy may take place in a government/business setting, make sly puns about the business world, and have no laughtrack. The other's joke may be that there is a man in women's clothing.
You knew about Mrs Brown's Boys in 2007? 
Seasons 2 - 5 of the US Office are flawless, it's a shame it's gone off the boil in the last 3 years. Even so, I struggle to think of a current UK show I'd watch over it. There's definitely nothing homegrown that I enjoy anywhere near as much as imports like Parks & Rec, Always Sunny and Community. I just tried to watch Phone Shop and I barely got ten minutes in.
Well don't hold that up as representative of the best comedy the UK has to bloody offer.
You've picked just about the worst UK show in the last 5 years.
Quote: Mark @ February 19 2009, 9:18 PM GMTYes, as Aaron says, The Office USA should not just be dismissed without watching it first. I came to it with a very aloof 'the UK is better' attitude but it soon turned me around. It is definitely on par with the UK version. Frankly they've done an more genius job than Gervais because they've somehow managed to keep their version fresh and on-going for nearly 100 episodes now. And I say that as a big fan of the original.
It's excrutiating watching a US sit-com remake with the same script. But an American Office has really made the format its own, some really good episodes.
Quote: zooo @ November 11 2011, 5:14 PM GMTWell don't hold that up as representative of the best comedy the UK has to bloody offer.
You've picked just about the worst UK show in the last 5 years.
If only that were true!
For the sake of recommendation and education, here's the current crop of US sitcoms I'm watching every week.
The office
Parks and recreation
Modern family
Community
It's always sunny in philidelphia
Bored to death
Up all night
The league
I think there might be one or two more but I can't remember off the trip of my head.
Oh oh and obviously 30 Rock when it starts up again.
I'm not sure about Up All Night. I watched the first three or four, and it's been okay, but hasn't quite made that step up. I'll probably revisit it at some point, if it doesn't get cancelled. If only because I love Will Arnett.
Actually, I've yet to see any sitcom from this years new crop that looks like a keeper.
One show that was cancelled, only lasted two seasons, but people should check out is Party Down, it's brilliant!
Yes, I loved party Down.
I really really like Up All Night, but that's because I find he characters really easy to identify with (not cause I have a baby, or anything).