American Version of 'The Office' a Let-down
 

Just another great coming of BBC to America!

From IMDB:
The American version of the Golden Globe-winning British comedy hit The Office has hit a major snag - an early screening of the show proved a painful experience for TV chiefs. Preview audiences greeted the American show with an icy silence after the pilot episode was screened at a 'testing facility' in Hollywood. One reviewer explains, "I don't think many of the test group I sat with was as familiar with the original British series as I was. Still, it was painfully clear that nobody was liking it. The lady next to me said she found it depressing." In the American version, funnyman Steve Carrell steps into Ricky Gervais' shoes as the boss of the office. But the reviewer believes Carrell's take on the role doesn't compare to the original character: "The acting lacks masterful underplaying of Gervais and company. A guy tries to fill Ricky's shoes and can't."

Carrell needs to get his ass back to "The Daily Show."

I just ordered S1 & S2 of The Office - blind buy based on all the great word of mouth. Did the same with Coupling last year and loved it.

Frankly, considering how bad Coupling-US was, this news is not shocking in the least.

Why the hell are they remaking a show (spoken in English) that is only a year or two old?

If the networks think that people are too stupid to enjoy the original show, what makes them want to remake it in the first place? Just makes no damn sense...

$$

That is why

To be fair, most people have the same reaction to the original program when I try to show it to them. The jokes aren't obvious, and it sometimes takes a while to see where the show is going...especially for the novice viewer.

But that's what I'm saying... what makes them think this will make $$$?

Coupling-U.S. bombed. This one is apparently equally unwatchable. No money is getting made.

Why remake something that you think is 'beyond' your audience to begin with? The fans of the BBC show won't like it; and anyone who isn't a fan doesn't want to see it in the first place.

That and there were so few episodes made when you consider just 1 season of an American series averages 22 episodes.

It took me more than one episode to get into it...I didn't care for the first episode much, but after two or three shows in, I began to love it. But there's no way this show would be a hit with an American audience - it requires too much attention.

Yep. See Development, Arrested.

I guess it depends on who you ask. The latest edition of TVGuide has this to say:

It goes on to say Gervais is very flattered with the version and is happy with Carell.

I'll be watching and judging for myself, as with all things.....

I was so disappointed when I tried showing The Office to some other family members. I showed them the bit with the but I got pretty much no reaction.

I think Arressted Devolpment is a pretty good take of office life American style.
.....
Have you guys seen the BK ad campaign? I swear that thing is straight up ripping off the office.

Plus it has no laugh track, that's the kiss of death for most network comedies in this country.

rotfl

That part always kills me.

This upsets me. I enjoyed the US version of Coupling. I think it didn't due to well in America because audiences that have never seen the original felt it was a rip-off of Friends and those that had seen the original are too snobbish to admit that anything American produces may be half decent.

The sad truth is that the original version of the office wouldn't even be able to complete it's small run on a major network. The humor wouldn't be well recived at all by most american viewers. The us remake doesn't stand a chance

I think it's ridiculous to try and remake classic English comedy for the US market

there is no way that the new actors can ever compete with the original actors

In this day and age of the internet, it's just not possible to 'con' the audience into thinking it's a whole new original show like it was in the 70s and 80s

I saw the Office on Showcase about a month ago when they were showing a sneek peek. I didn't get it or find it really funny. I liked the show but I didn't find it very funny.

I did however find the clip they showed at the Golden Globes really funny. That is was made me want to watch The Office in the first place.

And Arrested Developmewnt is one of the funniest shows ever.

I agree. The original was fantastic, and should not have been touched. I understand some americans may not know where Slough is, or understand all the jokes, but just watch the show for a few weeks and it will make sense. It is in English!!! No reason at all to change it for the US market. I brought season 1 back to the states with me and showed it to my brother. He thought it was great!

I've actually seen a snippet of the American version of The Office. The impov is a little forced. In the snippet I saw Steve Carrell was scolding The Office about those charity candy jars in which you put a quarter in and take a peppermint patty. Apparently people were taking pepperment patties without putting change in and the woman came to collect the money (who was atttractive) he tried to look like a powerful figure to her. But in the next scene he was sitting behing his desk eating a peppermint. Although I like Carrell I don't think he was the best choice to fill Gervais' shoes.

Steve Carrell may be funny, this role isn't for him.
He's not subtle enough, and that's what made Gervais so great.

Quite silly to try and make an american version of this show IMO.

Reminds me of the epi when Gervais forces the new folk to join him for a few pints, and then gets pissed off and storms off when they won't laugh at him!!

No need to mess with a good thing here, besides, it seems like The Office has a cult, niche following, unlike what NBC or whoever would be looking for.

You think executives would have learned their lesson from Coupling. Terrible idea to remake a show like this.

I stated same in the Christmas Episode(s) thread. Most Americans will tune out when they realize it isn't "Office Space", and most of the rest will wonder why there is a show based on the BK commercials.

Dumb Americans. -ohbfrank-

The British one isn't improvised at all - it is completely scripted.

It may be scripted but I'm sure Gervais will do anything to make the take funnier. I watched the documentary on the DVD and they said Gervais never did the same take twice and you never knew what he was going to do.

Looks like they'll file this next to the unaired American version of RED DWARF.

Making a US version of Coupling was redundant anyway as it was their version (ripoff?) of Friends. Talk about coming full circle. I never watched an episode of the US version, but I doubt if a lot of the sexual stuff was kept in. And since most of that show's humor was based on sex sex sex, why bother?

Same will probably go with US version of The Office. Will the dildo given as a b-day present be kept in? How about the giant joke blow-up penis? the uncomfortable sexual harassment stuff? All those "bad" words? (especially in this age of overprotective FCC B.S.)
Why bother, why bother. I hate this mentality of making foreign TV and movies easier to swallow for the American masses... after they've been Americanized... all the fun and originality is gone and it's just bland garbage. I'm sure Gervais is happy with it... he got paid, didn't he? He's not going to bad mouth it until it inevitably tanks and he's no longer invested in it.

I'm still waiting for the Americanized version of jam.

The only thing Coupling copied from Friends was the 3 guys & 3 girls as friends concept (if that is a concept) and even that is a stretch because people like Jane and Jeff did not even interact until season 3.

If Coupling copied from anything, it was Seinfeld and Sex & the City.

Well, okay, but it doesn't change my point.
;)

This is from AICN so take it with the usual grain of salt

Yeah, because look at the hit TV execs took on those failed shows like All in the Family and Three's Company, plus more I am sure that I am forgetting now. God, why don't they just get a CLUE?

Re: American Version of 'The Office' a Let-down
 

Hard to fault people for being skeptical, but this thread is still amusing in retrospect.

Re: American Version of 'The Office' a Let-down
 

It's funny - I read through this and noticed my posting about blind buying the UK version. Honestly, I watched about 4 or 5 episodes and I didn't really care for it, but I love the US version.

Re: American Version of 'The Office' a Let-down
 

Perfect example of why it's not as easy to be a TV exec as we all pretend.

Re: American Version of 'The Office' a Let-down
 

Most random bumps are puzzling, but this one was brilliant. Great read in retrospect, and it gives me a tiny bit of hope that the inevitable American version of "Gavin and Stacey" might not be the trainwreck I'm expecting it to be!

Re: American Version of 'The Office' a Let-down
 

This thread title is a let-down.









That's what she said.

Re: American Version of 'The Office' a Let-down
 

I predict that Avatar will bomb.

Re: American Version of 'The Office' a Let-down
 

Ha! I called it! This show is showing it's having the staying power of All in the Family and Three's Company!