THE OFFICE

[Bob Samonkey]

They could spin-off 'Dwight and Mose's Beet Farm Bed and Breakfast' into it's own series.

Thats what I figured would be the case....

[LeFlambeur]

Felt bad for Toby... again. The guy tried his hardest to be there FOR Michael during lunch.... he tried to connect... and then Michael just shoved his food off.

Yeah, but wasn't Toby reading a copy of Michael's diary at the lunch table? I thought that was why Micheal pushed Toby's food and papers off of the table, because Toby didn't have a very good reason to be reading it.

[Fievel]

Felt bad for Toby... again. The guy tried his hardest to be there FOR Michael during lunch.... he tried to connect... and then Michael just shoved his food off.

Yeah, but wasn't Toby reading a copy of Michael's diary at the lunch table? I thought that was why Micheal pushed Toby's food and papers off of the table, because Toby didn't have a very good reason to be reading it.

True, but Toby could have stood up for Michael, demanding respect and privacy regarding the diary, and Michael would have still done the same thing. Toby's like a punching bad for Michael.. which is funny because with Toby being the Legal guy, he's the last person you want to piss off.

[TheBaxter]

yeah, michael's toby-hate goes way back, and the fact that there's never been any reason or explanation for it makes it that much funnier.

[darkjedijaina]

I've just started watching this... a friend rented the DVD's and we watched some a few nights ago... I dig.

[Chilli]

HAH.

Just watching 'The Injury.' Excellent stuff, particularly Michael yelling at people about disabilities and ignoring everyone who says they had one at some point.

[Zarles]

Is that the one where he burns his foot on the George Foreman grill? Classic.

[Chilli]

Yeah.

So many classic bits. From Dwight's crashing of his car, to Michael yelling he doesn't want Dwight, to Michael falling over into the disabled toilet and Toby telling him Ryan is dead, to Pam informing Angela Dwight is going to be okay.

The repeats here in the UK are excellent.

[Chilli]

The Office (US) - 2x01 'The Dundies

I've been catching various random repeats of The Office (US, won't watch the UK) all week on Paramount Comedy. It's a groovy show, for sure, even if it felt less like 'whoa, this is classic' than I like my shows to. It was funny, but nothing I was getting super psyched and pumped over.

Then I watch this ep.

Good TV is about character. To me, the plot is a bonus. All I really want is characters I can relate to. Like Peter Petrelli (figuring out what to do with your life), John Locke (trying to understand who you are), Xander (how to be awesome). This show took a while, but it finally has them.

When you watch Michael on stage, being bombarded with garabe by these cretins, and you see Pam stand up and bring everything full circle... God, it's good TV. Honest and true and genuine and heartwarming and endearing and everything that people complain about because it isn't true in real life, ignoring the fact that it SHOULD be true of real life.

The best TV hits us in a way we can't foresee. Like a shot of absinthe, you gulp and you soak it in and you come down from the adrenaline high and think... THAT is brilliant, this is inspiring and that is poetic. And the sad part is you watch it, and you see Jim have the night of his life and know Pam won't remember, and you recall nights like that where you are the sole witness, the sole memory, and that tomorrow is going to be another day... but you smile anyway, because it was all worth it for that one shining evening.

I often find, with the stuff I enjoy, a little confusion from people. With me... when I fall in love with a TV show, it hits me like a sledgehammer. It's hard to break. Heroes has that... South Park has that... Angel has that... and this episode is good enough to put The Office into that camp. It's hilarious, gentle, truthful, honest, a show that taps into your humanity and makes you realise that you may cringe, you may cover your eyes, you may squirm, but you will watch because it is good, and because it contains rare moments where life is bliss.

A+

[DaleTremont]

The Office (US) - 2x01 'The Dundies

I've been catching various random repeats of The Office (US, won't watch the UK) all week on Paramount Comedy. It's a groovy show, for sure, even if it felt less like 'whoa, this is classic' than I like my shows to. It was funny, but nothing I was getting super psyched and pumped over.

Then I watch this ep.

Good TV is about character. To me, the plot is a bonus. All I really want is characters I can relate to. Like Peter Petrelli (figuring out what to do with your life), John Locke (trying to understand who you are), Xander (how to be awesome). This show took a while, but it finally has them.

When you watch Michael on stage, being bombarded with garabe by these cretins, and you see Pam stand up and bring everything full circle... God, it's good TV. Honest and true and genuine and heartwarming and endearing and everything that people complain about because it isn't true in real life, ignoring the fact that it SHOULD be true of real life.

The best TV hits us in a way we can't foresee. Like a shot of absinthe, you gulp and you soak it in and you come down from the adrenaline high and think... THAT is brilliant, this is inspiring and that is poetic. And the sad part is you watch it, and you see Jim have the night of his life and know Pam won't remember, and you recall nights like that where you are the sole witness, the sole memory, and that tomorrow is going to be another day... but you smile anyway, because it was all worth it for that one shining evening.

I often find, with the stuff I enjoy, a little confusion from people. With me... when I fall in love with a TV show, it hits me like a sledgehammer. It's hard to break. Heroes has that... South Park has that... Angel has that... and this episode is good enough to put The Office into that camp. It's hilarious, gentle, truthful, honest, a show that taps into your humanity and makes you realise that you may cringe, you may cover your eyes, you may squirm, but you will watch because it is good, and because it contains rare moments where life is bliss.

A+

Great post, Chilli. And The Office is a brilliant show. But, out of curiosity, why no UK Office for you?

[Chilli]

I watched the first episode when it premiered in England... and I stared at my screen, horrified. Didn't laugh once. Thought it was some of the most mean-spirited bullshit that I ever had to sit through. Which they say is the point, but I just couldn't believe they were passing it off as a cutting-edge comedy program.

[Fievel]

If you liked the first season of the USA Office, check out the the UK version - lots of familiar things there.

[Chilli]

If you liked the first season of the USA Office, check out the the UK version - lots of familiar things there.

Maybe so, but I have no interest in watching the UK one.

[bluebottle]

Chilli, i beg you to give it another shot. at least for one episode. "training day" would be the one i'd recommend.

[thomasgaffney]

Chilli, i beg you to give it another shot. at least for one episode. "training day" would be the one i'd recommend.

"Free love on the Free Love Free Way,
The Love is Free and the freeways long,
I've got some hot love on the hot love highway
ain't goin' Home cause my babies gone."

[Ribbons]

I watched the first episode when it premiered in England... and I stared at my screen, horrified. Didn't laugh once. Thought it was some of the most mean-spirited bullshit that I ever had to sit through. Which they say is the point, but I just couldn't believe they were passing it off as a cutting-edge comedy program.

The Christmas special of the UK Office redeems several of its characters... I've heard mixed reactions to this, but if you're looking for a sample that's not quite so mean-spirited and you don't mind SPOILERS!, you should check it out.

[Zarles]

The Office (US) - 2x01 'The Dundies

I've been catching various random repeats of The Office (US, won't watch the UK) all week on Paramount Comedy. It's a groovy show, for sure, even if it felt less like 'whoa, this is classic' than I like my shows to. It was funny, but nothing I was getting super psyched and pumped over.

Then I watch this ep.

Good TV is about character. To me, the plot is a bonus. All I really want is characters I can relate to. Like Peter Petrelli (figuring out what to do with your life), John Locke (trying to understand who you are), Xander (how to be awesome). This show took a while, but it finally has them.

When you watch Michael on stage, being bombarded with garabe by these cretins, and you see Pam stand up and bring everything full circle... God, it's good TV. Honest and true and genuine and heartwarming and endearing and everything that people complain about because it isn't true in real life, ignoring the fact that it SHOULD be true of real life.

The best TV hits us in a way we can't foresee. Like a shot of absinthe, you gulp and you soak it in and you come down from the adrenaline high and think... THAT is brilliant, this is inspiring and that is poetic. And the sad part is you watch it, and you see Jim have the night of his life and know Pam won't remember, and you recall nights like that where you are the sole witness, the sole memory, and that tomorrow is going to be another day... but you smile anyway, because it was all worth it for that one shining evening.

I often find, with the stuff I enjoy, a little confusion from people. With me... when I fall in love with a TV show, it hits me like a sledgehammer. It's hard to break. Heroes has that... South Park has that... Angel has that... and this episode is good enough to put The Office into that camp. It's hilarious, gentle, truthful, honest, a show that taps into your humanity and makes you realise that you may cringe, you may cover your eyes, you may squirm, but you will watch because it is good, and because it contains rare moments where life is bliss.

A+

The Dundies is probably one of my favorite episodes. Pam getting wasted and saving the day was fantastic. 'See? Second drink!'

I'm not much of a fan of the UK version, either. I much prefer the US.

[JpPrewitt789]

My favorite Office quote of all time:

"I don't have much experience when it comes to dealing with vampires. Werewolves, however, are another story. I actually shot a werewolf once, but by the time I got over to it, it had already turned back into my neighbors dog"-Dwight

[Zarles]

There are so many, but here's one of mine -

Jim to Dwight: 'What's your middle name?'

Dwight: 'Danger'.

[JpPrewitt789]

Haha^

An interesting insight to the mind of Michael Scott:

"People hate other people who are different from them. That's natural"

[Zarles]

I think 'Casino Night' is probably my favorite episode to date. Steve Carell wrote it, and not only is it hilarious, but the ending is just heartbreaking. It's got a permanent 'saved' position on my DVR.

[JpPrewitt789]

^Yeah poor Jim. At least poor Jim during that episode. It all turned out for the best. I thought it was great when Toby was listing all of the reasons that they should NOT invite real boy scouts to Casino Night and Michael is just glowering at him with complete disgust.

Ok so here's the BIG QUESTION: Who's hotter-Pam or Karen?

[Zarles]

Pam by five million miles. Karen looks like the hippie chick in Dr. Teeth's band.

Didja see the episode that was on last night, 'Local Ad'? Pam with sexy bedhead hair = the hottest thing ever.

[Fievel]

Ok so here's the BIG QUESTION: Who's hotter-Pam or Karen?

Karen's the girl you want to fuck like crazy and then go play some first-person shooter against between fuck sessions.

Pam's the girl you want to marry.

[DaleTremont]

Karen is pretty foxy. But then I saw Jenna Fisher in Walk Hard and well...[insert obvious title innuendo here.]

I think my favorite episode might have to be Dumbledore Witch Hunt. It's for sure one of the ones that never fails to make me side-split laughing. One word- gaydar.

[Bob Samonkey]

Karen is pretty foxy. But then I saw Jenna Fisher in Walk Hard and well...[insert obvious title innuendo here.]

Karen is pretty foxy. But then I saw Jenna Fisher in Walk Hard and well...[walked to the nearest cup of cold water and threw it on me?.]

[DaleTremont]

Karen is pretty foxy. But then I saw Jenna Fisher in Walk Hard and well...[insert obvious title innuendo here.]

Karen is pretty foxy. But then I saw Jenna Fisher in Walk Hard and well...[I walked hard out that theater, let me tell ya']

Doesn't quite work in the strictest anatomical sense in my case...

...if the movie were called "Walk Wet" on the other hand....

What? Someone has to make inappropriate jokes around here!

[Bob Samonkey]

Karen is pretty foxy. But then I saw Jenna Fisher in Walk Hard and well...[insert obvious title innuendo here.]

Karen is pretty foxy. But then I saw Jenna Fisher in Walk Hard and well...[I walked hard out that theater, let me tell ya']

Doesn't quite work in the strictest anatomical sense in my case...

...if the movie were called "Walk Wet" on the other hand....

What? Someone has to make inappropriate jokes around here!

You put words in my mouth!! That was why I went away from the hard as I figured unless it was cold in there it would not matter...

[tangerine]

It's so weird hearing all this appraisal for the US Office... To me that's just a lame copy. The Office was based on Gervais and without him (and Mackenzie Crook!) it's just another sit-com. It probably depends on what you saw first, and perhaps the UK one is based on a lot of internal British humour, but it is still the one and only original. The UK one is a lot more subtle and awkward, which certainly is my cuppa.

[Chilli]

It's so weird hearing all this appraisal for the US Office... To me that's just a lame copy. The Office was based on Gervais and without him (and Mackenzie Crook!) it's just another sit-com. It probably depends on what you saw first, and perhaps the UK one is based on a lot of internal British humour, but it is still the one and only original. The UK one is a lot more subtle and awkward, which certainly is my cuppa.

I think Gervais is an atrocious actor. He brings that one down, for me.

[tangerine]

What? Atrocious actor? He can take most subtle, mundane joke, and deliver it in such a way that I have to rewind and watch it over and over to try and figure out how I can direct my actors to act that way. I think he is brilliant, and David Brent as a character is a masterpiece. Again I need to mention Krook as Gareth here, as his acting still is twice the quality of Gervais's.

"I was thinking... will there every be a boy... who can swim faster than a shark?"

[Chilli]

What? Atrocious actor? He can take most subtle, mundane joke, and deliver it in such a way that I have to rewind and watch it over and over to try and figure out how I can direct my actors to act that way. I think he is brilliant, and David Brent as a character is a masterpiece. Again I need to mention Krook as Gareth here, as his acting still is twice the quality of Gervais's.

"I was thinking... will there every be a boy... who can swim faster than a shark?"

Yeah, not budging. I think he's really, really awful.

[tangerine]

/moves on

[RogueScribner]

The UK Office was all right. I did see it first and I can appreciate it for what it was, but I love the USA Office. The first season was a bit rocky, but it started to find its groove in the second season and I think it really hit its stride last season. Michael is a bit of a cartoon and Dwight can be too, but their interactions with the other office workers is priceless. And every supporting player has a bit of gold to mine. That's definitely one thing the US version has over its UK counterpart. The UK version was often understated (but just as awkward), but David Brent often came across as an ass where Michael Scott comes across as well meaning, but ignorant. So Michael is certainly more likable, IMO.

[tangerine]

Well yeah, there's nothing likeable about Brent, but then there isn't supposed to be, so I'm perfectly happy with that. I think Michael is more plain (read: boring) in that respect, Steve Carell always plays the same character. Nice, well-meaning but a bit stupid. Brent's character is more original in the fact that he's not NO sympathetic sides to him, he's just so incredibly embarrassing and unaware of how useless he is.

[RogueScribner]

And for 12 episodes having a complete bastard for a lead character might work, but the US version has 60 episodes and counting. I don't think the show would have lasted that long without a likable lead.

[tangerine]

I'll give you that, towards the end of the second UK series it got painfully awkward at times. But the Christmas Specials showed a new side to Brent and a character development which had been completely lacking before. So yeah, 2 series + specials was ideal.

(I still think UK is better though - compressed quality rather than mediocre quantity.)

[tapehead]

It's so weird hearing all this appraisal for the US Office... To me that's just a lame copy. The Office was based on Gervais and without him (and Mackenzie Crook!) it's just another sit-com. It probably depends on what you saw first, and perhaps the UK one is based on a lot of internal British humour, but it is still the one and only original. The UK one is a lot more subtle and awkward, which certainly is my cuppa.

The first four or five eps of series one of the US version could be called a 'lame copy', but since that point it took a left turn into a true ensemble comedy (though Carrel gets a little more screen time than he always deserves) and a gentler, 'quirkier' style. I thing Gervais has basically admitted that he owes a lot of his comedic perspective to the likes of Larry David and Christopher Guest, and I see a lot of that in the US office too, it's just that Gervais has a unique British take on it.

David Brent often came across as an ass where Michael Scott comes across as well meaning, but ignorant. So Michael is certainly more likable, IMO.

Brent is a preening little Struggling Background Artist who's pretty gormless, Scott is dangerously stupid, paranoid and very earnest.

[tangerine]

And the unique British take on it is what I have fallen for.

[RogueScribner]

Diff'rent strokes.

[Chilli]

I'll give you that, towards the end of the second UK series it got painfully awkward at times. But the Christmas Specials showed a new side to Brent and a character development which had been completely lacking before. So yeah, 2 series + specials was ideal.

(I still think UK is better though - compressed quality rather than mediocre quantity.)

Wait - so you praise Brent for being a bastard, then praise him getting a new side? Whaaaaat?

[tangerine]

No, I was just saying that he couldn't have remained a bastard the way Michael could remain a sissy for that many seasons... And then I mentioned the character development just as a little appraisal for their finishing the series off, and thus saying that 2 series + specials was the ideal amount of episodes.

[tangerine]

Diff'rent strokes.

Exactly, I'm not trying to impose my opinions on anyone, just discussing.

[Chilli]

If it helps, I've never been a fan of British TV. Even my favourite British show (LOM) is a fair few notches below my favourite American ones. You'd hardly know I was English. Except for thinking the Robin Hood series was absolute shite.

[tangerine]

Heh, well, I'm not English (and I don't really watch TV) so I have no idea what you're talking about.

[Chilli]

Heh, well, I'm not English (and I don't really watch TV) so I have no idea what you're talking about.

That I find British TV to be dull, mainly. And prefer American, because it's loud and stupid and even when it aims for subtle it's usually sign-posting the emotions you should feel.

I prefer Michael Scott to Brent, because Scott's more rounded. Even if his antics do make me cringe, it's more in a 'dude, stop being such a prat and chill out' way than a 'Man, I hate David Brent' way. I prefer the former because it means I have an investment in what's going on.

[tangerine]

Fair enough - but do you prefer American sit-coms to the Brit-sits? Because I've never seen such comedy brilliance before - Peep Show, The Office, Garth Marenghi's Darkplace, Spaced...... on and on it goes. Imo could never beat the American in-your-face comedies.

[thomasgaffney]

I saw the UK Office first and loved it to death! Series 1 remains one of the best seasons of tv ever made. And for a LOT more than Gervais's performance of David Brent. Tim's (Martin Freeman) glances at the camera when Brent would do or say something pathetic are spot on brilliant. And Gareth (Mackenzie Crook) being Gareth is the type of quirky office worker that all sitcoms strive to have. It will always be the top for me.

I tuned into the pilot episode of the US Office and hated everything about it. It was the same script as the pilot UK Office, but without any of its charm or humor. After that, I stopped watching the US Office until well into Season 2. By that time, it stopped trying to be a UK Office clone and became its own show. And it got good!

I actually like both Offices now. It's at the point where it's two different shows, based on the same premise. If I had to pick though, the UK Office remains my hands-down favorite of the two. Maybe I just prefer that dry, slightly awkward British humor more...

[Chilli]

Fair enough - but do you prefer American sit-coms to the Brit-sits? Because I've never seen such comedy brilliance before - Peep Show, The Office, Garth Marenghi's Darkplace, Spaced...... on and on it goes. Imo could never beat the American in-your-face comedies.

Out of those, I like Peep Show. Couldn't get into Spaced. American sit-com wise, I liked Two Guys & A Girl... and that's it. The IT Crowd is my favourite UK one, partly because the situations may be exaggerated but the characters are relatably idiotic.

[tangerine]

I'm right with ya gaffney. I love it in 'Training Day' when Brent is singing, and Tim comes up to the camera and goes "he went home to get it" - !!!