Season 4's out today on DVD.
The Office: An American Workplace Page 18
Season 6 has taken an upturn after a few shitty episodes.
Yes, I have to agree with a whole bunch of you that the US version took a life of it's own. I absolutely love it, they've managed to create a workplace where you really feel people have their own lives not just some cheesy American catch phrases etc.
But I didn't like how Season 6 ended. I know probably most of you haven't seen it so I won't give anything away. I just didn't like the finale. Rest of the season was in their standards good material but that last episode kind of ended on a flat note.
Quote: Alfred J Kipper @ April 8 2010, 12:31 PM BSTI because of the less subtle Americanness of it all.
What a trabben of utter garbage. Gervais essentially modelled his originial version on The Larry Sanders Show - possibly one of the most subtle sitcoms ever. What you have said is grade A little englander nonsense.
The Office without Michael Scott? I'd probably be in favour - the character has nowhere to go, every joke has been done.
The show does seem on the way out, but there are still excellent moments.
Knowledge.
Quote: jim field @ June 23 2010, 10:28 PM BSTGervais essentially modelled his originial version on The Larry Sanders Show - possibly one of the most subtle sitcoms ever.
No, I don't think he did. I'm sure it was an influence, but so were a lot of other shows. And what he created had enough originality and spark to be it's own creation.
And yes, the American version is also brilliant and has a life of it's own.
He almost certainly did; he acknowledges this, but if you look closer, some of the similarities are staggering.
Quote: jim field @ June 24 2010, 7:11 PM BSTHe almost certainly did; he acknowledges this, but if you look closer, some of the similarities are staggering.
Look closer for me and point out the staggering similarities.
Hank & Gareth Keenan.
??????
Two more opposite people I never did see!
Are you in the middle of a nervatic breakdown?
Could they BE any more similair?
Quote: jim field @ June 24 2010, 10:04 PM BSTAre you in the middle of a nervatic breakdown? Could they BE any more similair?
They share a few common traits - sycophantic, dim - but you could say that about Gareth and Michael from I'm Alan Partridge. Hank was also obsessed with money - Gareth isn't. Hank was ultimately quite lonely and pathetic, whereas Gareth actually has a lot of friends.
Mackenzie Crook was excellent.
I think he brought a lot to the part.
I reckon he was the most convincing character in the whole show.
Quote: jim field @ June 24 2010, 9:30 PM BSTHank & Gareth Keenan.
I think you mean Hank and David Brent. The character of Hank was an influence for Gervais' portrayal of Brent.
Negatoid.
Have to agree with the general drift that both US and UK versions are good in their own way.
Particularly impressed with the way making the Steve Carrell character a well meaning moron, rather than an out and out self-oriented egotist like Brent changes the whole dynamic of the office and gives it a more upbeat, American feel. I've been to Scranton, and it has just as much claim to be a place hopes go to die as Slough does. But you only need to watch S1 E1 to see how f*ing awful a direct copy could have been.
Are there any other examples of UK/ US or US/UK adaptations where the copy is as good as the original?