Has the American "The Office" eclipsed the British "The Office"?

[Imran Siddiqui]

Discuss..

The British "The Office" was hilarious in its cringe inducing antics of Ricky Gervais, but I think the American version has passed it by, especially with this 2nd season. The 1st season was ok, but the 2nd season (especially the last 3 or 4 episodes) have been comic gold.

Steve Carrell is playing the character better (ie, less toned down... more pathetic) and it just makes the entire show utterly falling on the floor, laughing your ass off funny. It also doesn't hurt that Dwight is cast perfectly (Jim and Pam are cast good as well, but Dwight is just spot on).

[Japher]

I like it... haven't seen the British version though so I can't compare

[Imran Siddiqui]

I think when "Arrested Development" finally gets canceled (), "The Office" and "My Name is Earl" will fight against each other for the title of best comedy on tv (and interestingly enough, they are on back to back on Tuesdays on NBC).

[Japher]

I though it already got canceled

[Imran Siddiqui]

There is still half a season left to run.

[flash9286]

last couple episodes of Arrested development weren't that good in my opinion, but The Office

[Imran Siddiqui]

Heathen!!

The Rocketman v. Moleman episode was Pure. Comic. Gold. In fact, the last two episodes they showed back to back before the hiatus were perhaps the two best episodes of the 3rd season.

[flash9286]

No, I'm sorry just hasn't been that funny this season.

[Imran Siddiqui]

Yes, I'm sorry, it has .

The last two they showed have been as funny as any Arrested Development show ever aired. Though the "For British Eyes Only" has had a fairly slow buildup (unfortunetly). Bob Loblaw is utter hilarious ("There will be no nonsense in front of Bob Loblaw ).

[reds4ever]

I watched the first USA series and thought it was very poor, it was like the actors were trying to do impressions of their British counterparts instead of their characters.

I have to admit the second series is much better, its still not as good as the British version though....

[flash9286]

Difference of opinion I guess, my personal favorite episode is "Righteous Brothers", "Rocket man vs Mole man" was clearly the best episode of the season, but it still wasn't that funny.

[Imran Siddiqui]

Bah!! Bah, I say! Though I guess it helps if you watched a decent amount of Godzilla as a kid. I was on the floor laughing.

Anyway, on topic... American "The Office"

[Oncle Boris]

Originally posted by Imran Siddiqui
Heathen!!

The Rocketman v. Moleman episode was Pure. Comic. Gold. In fact, the last two episodes they showed back to back before the hiatus were perhaps the two best episodes of the 3rd season.

And you like Potter, right?

[Ninot]

I want to watch The Office....I like Steve Carell alot....

but Habs always play on Tuesday nights

Hockey > comedy

[Imran Siddiqui]

Don't you have a VCR or a DVR?

[Ninot]

i have a capture card, i guess i could use that.

I'll usually forget tho.

[Imran Siddiqui]

Ah, I think the hour of "My Name is Earl" and "The Office" is the best night of comedy on American TV (well as long as "Arrested Development is on hiatus ). Brilliant shows.

[flash9286]

Sunday on Fox gives NBC Tuesday a run for its money, Family Guy has been absolutely hilarious the last couple episodes.

[Imran Siddiqui]

Eh... I find the Family Guy to be above average, but nothing that special. When it comes to animated comedies, I'll take South Park.

[flash9286]

South Park

"Tom Cruise please come out of the closet"

[Sava]

Arrested Development is not good... I never understood the appeal of that show. I watched it, and it's just like... it's not funny! The best comedy on TV? Yeah okay... whatever Imran...

It's not even the best comedy on FOX... Malcolm in the Middle is better.

As for The Office? Well that is a great show (the American version). I have never seen the British version so I can't compare. But British humor is not that great. So the American version is probably better. Steve Carrell is awesome. There is no way that any of the British actors are better than him. The only British comedies that are worth a damn are Monty Python and... well... Monty Python... Benny Hill and Mr. Bean are okay. They are kind of goofy. But I can't think of any other British stuff that is good.

As for the best comedy on TV right now? I'd have to say Scrubs (which has been in hiatus for a long time, but is returning soon) or Malcolm in the Middle. The Office and My Name is Earl are really good. They would be in the running for second tier honors.

[Sava]

Originally posted by Imran Siddiqui
Eh... I find the Family Guy to be above average, but nothing that special. When it comes to animated comedies, I'll take South Park.

Yeah. Did you see the Gingers episode?

[Ramo]

Third season Family Guy was brilliant. The new ones aren't as good.

It's hard to say that the American "The Office" is better than the British version, since the Americans blatantly ripped off so many of the British version's jokes. I also prefer the Brits' somewhat more subtle humo(u)r; Steve Carrell is too unrealistic a character IMO. Also, the Brit cast is more well rounded, wheras Steve Carrell makes "The Office."

[Pekka]

Saw the first season of the US series, it was OK but it wasn't gold. Comparing to the original UK series, the original was superior.

However, I haven't seen the second season of the US Office so.. have to see what happens.

But I doubt it. I think that Imran, being American, needs the pace of jokes to be steady one every 20 seconds, or he gets bored. I feel that he is the reason why the comedy these days is cheap and OK but not great. I feel, that you Imran, you are the reason why we don't get the quality TV we could get.

But anyway, didn't see the second season yet so have to give it a chance first, plus the dude... what's his name, the assistant to the boss whatever dude, I feel he was genious in the US series, I'll give credit to him, while others failed to top their counterparts, but still did OK.

[Caligastia]

Originally posted by Sava
But British humor is not that great. So the American version is probably better. Steve Carrell is awesome. There is no way that any of the British actors are better than him. The only British comedies that are worth a damn are Monty Python and... well... Monty Python... Benny Hill and Mr. Bean are okay. They are kind of goofy. But I can't think of any other British stuff that is good.

Probably because you haven't seen much other British comedy. If you ever get the chance, I highly recommend Fawlty Towers, The Young Ones, Bottom, and Blackadder.

[Imran Siddiqui]

The best comedy on TV? Yeah okay... whatever Imran...

Yeah, by far. I can watch that show all day long. The only show I'd take over it is Seinfeld, and just barely.

needs the pace of jokes to be steady one every 20 seconds

Have you ever SEEN the US version of "The Office"?

[Pekka]

Did you ever read my post? I said I've seen the first season. It's paced totally differentlyl, and the jokes are driven in differently, to suit the American style, which means faster pace, and there needs to be jokes in certain rhythms, and some of the jokes that were in the UK version are driven differently, the more subtle jokes are forced so it's more obvious it's a joke.

It's still OK, the US version, at least the first season.

[Sava]

Originally posted by Caligastia


Probably because you haven't seen much other British comedy. If you ever get the chance, I highly recommend Fawlty Towers, The Young Ones, Bottom, and Blackadder.

I've seen Fawlty Towers...



haven't heard of the others... although Blackadder rings a bell I might have seen that or have at least heard of it before

I got a lot of international channels when I was lived in my apartment in college. It's possible I have seen it before.

Originally posted by Imran Siddiqui

Yeah, by far. I can watch that show all day long. The only show I'd take over it is Seinfeld, and just barely.

SERIOUSLY??!?!?

What about that show do you find funny? I am not like ripping on you or anything. I am seriously not understanding this. I mean, we have generally the same taste in shows I think... South Park, The Office, Seinfeld, My Name is Earl...

I just don't get it. I've watched Arrested Development numerous times. My dad likes it also. I just don't find it to be funny.

oh well... it's just one of those things I guess.

I am like that with some stuff. I don't really like the Family Guy. And all of my friends think it is the funniest show of all time. I guess it's just the cliche about different strokes, eh?

[Imran Siddiqui]

Originally posted by Sava
SERIOUSLY??!?!?

What about that show do you find funny? I am not like ripping on you or anything. I am seriously not understanding this. I mean, we have generally the same taste in shows I think... South Park, The Office, Seinfeld, My Name is Earl...

I just don't get it. I've watched Arrested Development numerous times. My dad likes it also. I just don't find it to be funny.

oh well... it's just one of those things I guess.

I am like that with some stuff. I don't really like the Family Guy. And all of my friends think it is the funniest show of all time. I guess it's just the cliche about different strokes, eh?

Yeah, seriously! (Btw, your Dad has good taste in humor... I remember the Brokeback Mountain preview thread ) Arrested Development is the type of comedy where jokes build on each other. There will be jokes that reference past episodes, even as far back as Season 1 (as the last episode just did). And it relies on subtle wordplay that you may miss until pointed out (like my favorite joke is one that is fairly obvious: they Bluth family owns a boat called the 'Seaward'. Michael said they have to get rid of the 'Seaward' to GOB and Lucille [the mother] walks by and says "I heard that". The joke being Lucille though Michael was saying that they have to get rid of the 'C-word').

It definetly is a show that rewards a careful viewer, and if you just watch it casually a few times, you may miss a lot of humor (and you may miss it because it has built on the humor of past shows... in some ways its like a Comedy version of 24... you miss one episode, it may hurt your enjoyment for a decent number of episodes later on).

[q=Pekka]Did you ever read my post? I said I've seen the first season. It's paced totally differentlyl, and the jokes are driven in differently, to suit the American style, which means faster pace, and there needs to be jokes in certain rhythms, and some of the jokes that were in the UK version are driven differently, the more subtle jokes are forced so it's more obvious it's a joke.
[/q]

I still wonder if you've seen it. I never got that vibe at all. The jokes build up throughout the episode. They aren't at any manner of quick pace and good streaches go by where they are just setting up something that will come to fruition at the end of the episode (such as the jokes they play on Dwight).

[Pekka]

Compared to the original the jokes are fast paced and with different rhythm. You might not notice this if you are not experienced with comedy, especially outside the US. It's like tea and coffee, and also getting Finnish comedy, there's another drink all toegther, they all work differently with timing, pace and sometimes even structure.

I've seen it OK. But I also 'got it' .