US version of The Office is near, there's a trailer available.
http://www.nbc.com/nbc/Video/
Commence your groaning!
http://www.nbc.com/nbc/Video/
Commence your groaning!
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The Office US - trailer available
- Thread starter SFA_AOK
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Kung Fu Jedi
Member
Looks awful.
Yes, off topic!
Yes, off topic!
Doc Holliday
SPOILER: Columbus finds America
Why cant they just put on the original show on NBC?
Doc Holliday said:
Because the networks are convinced that the majority of their viewers just wouldn't "get" British humor.
And to a large extent, they're right. The problem is that making U.S. versions of British shows rarely works. "Who Wants to be a Millionaire?" and "American Idol" were flukes. U.S. versions "One Foot in the Grave," "Absolutely Fabulous," "Fawlty Towers," and "Never Mind the Buzzcocks" all died gruesome, early deaths.
dammitmattt
Banned
They completely missed the tone. "David Brent" is way too loud and obnoxious. Without a good David Brent, the show has nothing. Gareth is all wrong. Tim and Dawn don't even say anything. They tried so hard to make it like the real show (almost the same office design, same characters, same jokes), but it just ends up being a pale imitation. It would've been a lot better if they would've tried to be more original, and taken it in a different direction because the original just cannot be topped.
dammitmattt
Banned
Blimblim said:
Subtitles! There's a reason they put that option on the main menu of the DVDs.
SpoonyBard
Banned
Well that was crap. Hope it gets cancelled atfer the first couple of episodes.
Ignatz Mouse
Banned
xsarien said:
Well, they might be thinking of the 1970s, when many, many very successful sitcoms were based on, or inspired by, British TV. It could happen again.
Strike East
Member
its gonna be hard to fill David's, Tim's, Dawn's, Gareth's and Keith's shoes. Especially Gareth's, from what I saw on the trailer the guy doing Gareth is "meh" at best
Looks fine to me (just the trailer). "Whazzzzzzzzuuuup.....I still love that..........seven years later" :lol I'd rather judge it on the strength of its own humor rather than whether or not it's a perfect emulation of the original British series. Obviously they can't just "air the original" because it's friggin' 12 episodes. Barely even half the length of a US television season. Not to mention that they'd have to edit out like 8 minutes for commercials.
The episodes of Coupling (USA) that were original and not just re-hashes of the Brit scripts were actually pretty decent. The show might have had a shot if Jeff had not been so poorly cast.
The episodes of Coupling (USA) that were original and not just re-hashes of the Brit scripts were actually pretty decent. The show might have had a shot if Jeff had not been so poorly cast.
dammitmattt
Banned
android said:
I disagree. He is nothing like Ricky Gervais. He plays him in a completely different way, missing the whole point of the character. You're supposed to feel uncomfortable and squirm while watching David Brent, and you would never get that in the US show based on how he is played in the trailer.
Looks like it might be pretty funny, but I wouldn't be able to watch it without comparing it to the real The Office, which is now one of my all-time favorite comedy shows in history. It would be nice if they just took the idea of the show and did their own thing with it instead of copying everything from the characters right down to some of the gags.
The mexican joke was kinda funny, though.
I thought about it some more, and I'm starting to agree that the show may not work. What was so great about the original version was that despite being incredibly funny, the show had a sense of realism and you could really feel for the characters, like how you'd feel embarassed and at points sad (espeically the end of season2....jesus) for David, or how you'd genuinely sympathize with Tim and his situations. If the show is too slapstick and goofy, you won't care about the characters as much, and it just won't work.
The mexican joke was kinda funny, though.
I thought about it some more, and I'm starting to agree that the show may not work. What was so great about the original version was that despite being incredibly funny, the show had a sense of realism and you could really feel for the characters, like how you'd feel embarassed and at points sad (espeically the end of season2....jesus) for David, or how you'd genuinely sympathize with Tim and his situations. If the show is too slapstick and goofy, you won't care about the characters as much, and it just won't work.
VistraNorrez
Member
I love The Office, and it probably is the best show I've ever seen. The way all the characters were clearly defined and believeable, how they interacted, and how each episode unfolded in such a way that was so natural, that when the series ended it was time to. There was just something about it, so sublime.
The American Office will never match it, it can't, especially not with the fact that TV works so much differently here(ie seasons and amount of episodes). However, that trailer looked somewhat funny, and I would like to see the pilot. It wouldn't be good to compare it to the original, because it can't compare. I'm going to try to seperate it as much as possible, but it will be hard.
I appreciate that Carrell is not trying to be Gervais, it wouldn't have worked, Carrell isn't that type. He tends to act in a louder and more obnoxious way, which is exactly what he is doing. The problem with that is, is that it comes off like he's trying to do gags (the hitler thing), and not just being ignorant, which I think is the key to the boss character. He has to be so ignorant that you feel sorry for him. The trailer makes me hate him not feel sympathy.
Didn't get too much of a feel for the other characters though. "Gareth", was the only character we got to see really, and the guy doing it wasn't subtle enough. And the only reason I have a problem with that is that he was doing stuff from the original series, which I feel doesn't work with his protrayl.
With that said, I thought it was funny, and we'll see how it unfolds. I have only heard bad things about the pilot, but I'll still watch, maybe they can get it right with future episodes.
The American Office will never match it, it can't, especially not with the fact that TV works so much differently here(ie seasons and amount of episodes). However, that trailer looked somewhat funny, and I would like to see the pilot. It wouldn't be good to compare it to the original, because it can't compare. I'm going to try to seperate it as much as possible, but it will be hard.
I appreciate that Carrell is not trying to be Gervais, it wouldn't have worked, Carrell isn't that type. He tends to act in a louder and more obnoxious way, which is exactly what he is doing. The problem with that is, is that it comes off like he's trying to do gags (the hitler thing), and not just being ignorant, which I think is the key to the boss character. He has to be so ignorant that you feel sorry for him. The trailer makes me hate him not feel sympathy.
Didn't get too much of a feel for the other characters though. "Gareth", was the only character we got to see really, and the guy doing it wasn't subtle enough. And the only reason I have a problem with that is that he was doing stuff from the original series, which I feel doesn't work with his protrayl.
With that said, I thought it was funny, and we'll see how it unfolds. I have only heard bad things about the pilot, but I'll still watch, maybe they can get it right with future episodes.
It will be impossible for me to enjoy this show, seeing as I'll be unconsciously comparing it to the original in every possible way imaginable. For instance, there's an error in the script which goes completely against what Gareth is all about and how he reacts to stuff. Gareth would never actually show that he's angry or pissed. He gets uncomfortable, trying to have the most appropriate/"professional" reaction because he knows he's being filmed. But maybe that's what they were aiming for, dunno.
One thing that makes the original Office comedically flawless was how the characters used the cameras to capture these exquisitely awkward moments. I hope they realize this and use it on NBC. Doesn't seem to show in the trailer.
One thing that makes the original Office comedically flawless was how the characters used the cameras to capture these exquisitely awkward moments. I hope they realize this and use it on NBC. Doesn't seem to show in the trailer.
I can't for the life of me laugh or find anything in the office funny. I dunno, I like a different kind of humor, the good kind you know. Seriously though, I can't find awkward situations funny, nothing about that series is funny to me.. It's like I don't get the jokes or something.
Seriously though, I can't find awkward situations funny, nothing about that series is funny to me.. It's like I don't get the jokes or something. 
SuperPac
Member
I think you have to put Gervais out of your mind. Clearly Steve Carell is not Gervais, nor is he trying to match that brilliant performance. If the US version of The Office has a failing, it's that it will have to go on much longer than the Brit original. I really don't know if it can sustain that especially with the dumbed-down philosophy of US broadcast TV.
I saw the pilot and really enjoyed it. I wanna see what they do from the second episode onward because from there it's all original material from the US writers. Let's see if they're given the kind of freedom that this show'll need to stay interesting.
I saw the pilot and really enjoyed it. I wanna see what they do from the second episode onward because from there it's all original material from the US writers. Let's see if they're given the kind of freedom that this show'll need to stay interesting.
Traumahound
Member
That was like having your best friend get a sex change operation. He's sort of still the same person, but there's something just a little disconcerting about the whole deal.
V
Vennt
Unconfirmed Member
It bears repeating, because it's true.
I'd go further, unfortunately, I'd say that without Gervais as David Brent the show has absolutely nothing.
And no, I don't think you *should* put Gervais and friends "out of mind" with a comedy of this type, sometimes the actors / characters are 100% of what the show has to offer, not jokes, not situations, but rather individual characterization & mannerisms that cannot be put into a script. The Office is one such comedy.
Wow that was sad, as hilarious as this show is I figured Comedy Central would have snapped up rights for an english version long before any regular tv network. I don't even know why they want to bother, how the hell will they do something as hilarious as the queen and the breadbox joke on regular ass tv?
I like the show but I totally know where you are coming from. Some episodes I find myself just having to turn I feel so embarrassed for David. :lolI can't for the life of me laugh or find anything in the office funny. I dunno, I like a different kind of humor, the good kind you know.
Ignatz Mouse
Banned
gohepcat said:
It may, but the website just tells me I don't have 9, go away.
FortNinety
Member
xsarien said:
WTF, there was an American version of Fawlty Towers?
FortNinety said:
Why, 1999's "Payne", of course!
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0182623/
There were 9 episodes, I somehow doubt that all of them aired.
Ignatz Mouse
Banned
Aha!
xsarien said:
Coupling US was well cast except for Jeff but then I didn't expect anyone could really replace Richard Coyle - the welsh accent made the character that slighty bit weirder (no offence to Welsh people). Didn't Man About the House and its spinoff Robin's Nest do well in the US as 3's Company and 3's a Crowd (OK maybe not that last one).
As for Millionaire and Pop Idol they come under a different category than the others cos they aren't comedy shows, although Pop Idol is laughable.
The American producers that remake these shows have a lot in common with the film making practices of Uwe Boll - they miss the points that made the original material great. They replaced the Basil character in the first remake of Fawlty Towers with a woman. But lets face it - no one was going to usurp John Cleese's performance. The best example however, was the Red Dwarf movie where the producers wanted to cast Hugh Grant as Lister. At that point the writer just walked out.
D-X said:
I qualified my statement with "rarely" for a reason, you know.
Well, it seems importing talent searches and game shows yields slightly better results, although it turns out that The Weakest Link was the weakest link.
To a degree, you're right. But poor writing and casting of a remake can also doom a show. Buzzcocks in particular was driven by three people with no chemistry, and that kind of rendered it dead on arrival.
SpoonyBard
Banned
border said:
Actually didn't they replace Chris Eigeman first with Anthony Fuscle for the second pilot episode, and then with the original Rimmer, Chris Barrie, who would have been Rimmer if the series would have made it. Luckily it didn't, and he could continue doing the original British series.
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