NBC's Version of the Office - Tilted Forum Project Discussion Community

McG · 01-22-2005, 07:47 PM

Anybody know when it is coming out? I just heard about it. The BBC version was brilliant, but I'm sure the NBC one won't be funny because they have to americanize it.

drakers · 01-22-2005, 09:37 PM

What are you talking about, I feel left out on this one, someone please explain about the "Office".

McG · 01-23-2005, 01:13 AM

http://www.bbc.co.uk/comedy/theoffice/

Super funny if you like painful humor.

soccerchamp76 · 01-23-2005, 11:22 AM

I have seen a couple episodes and it is a god-awful show. Not funny in the slightest bit.
I will agree on one thing, it was painful to watch.

Willravel · 01-23-2005, 12:30 PM

Remember the american translation of Coupling? This isn't going to be pretty.

CSflim · 01-23-2005, 02:07 PM

It almost certainly won't be funny. I could be wrong. I would love to be wrong. But I probably won't. The one glimmer of hope is that Ricky Gervais is one of the producers. But in all likelyhood that means nothing at all.

For another failed Americanisation see Fawlty Towers. (The original being possibly the best comedy series ever made).

Sleepyjack · 01-24-2005, 08:54 AM

How come america/NBC has to make their own version?
The english one is hilarious, why not just show that?

I imagine there'd be no humour lost in cultural/lifestyle differences? it should all be pretty universal....?

Charlatan · 01-24-2005, 09:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sleepyjack

How come america/NBC has to make their own version?
The english one is hilarious, why not just show that?

I imagine there'd be no humour lost in cultural/lifestyle differences? it should all be pretty universal....?

Apparently Americans can't speak English (only American) and NBC doesn't like to subtitle or dub their programming...

One word... Coupling

projectself · 01-24-2005, 09:07 AM

bbc's the office is such a good show! british humor and a boss that you just cant stand.

Lebell · 01-24-2005, 09:38 AM

People are acting like this is a new thing when the truth is that many British hit shows have been imported and "Americanized".

As I recall, Three's Company was a takeoff on a British show and turned out well.

On the other hand, there was a recent effort to make an American "Fawlty Towers" that was a bust.

Charlatan · 01-24-2005, 10:24 AM

I agree Lebell this isn't a new thing... Man about the House was remade as Three's Company...

Here is a list of remakes

All In The Family (Till Death Us Do Part)
Amanda's (Fawlty Towers)
American Idol (Pop Idol)
Beanes of Boston (Are You Being Served?)
Cold Feet
Cosby (One Foot In The Grave)
Coupling
Cracker
Dear John
First Years (This Life)
Foot In The Door (Tom, Dick & Harriet)
Hope Island (Ballykissangel)
Lotsa Luck (On The Busses)
Love Thy Neighbor
The Lucy Arnaz Show (Agony)
Masterchef
Max Headroom
Men Behaving Badly
My Guide To Becoming A Rock Star (The Young Person's Guide To Becoming A Rock Star)
The Office
On The Rocks (Porridge)
The Ortegas (The Kumars At No. 42)
Payne (Fawlty Towers)
Queer As Folk
Reggie (The Fall and Rise of Reginald Perrin)
Sanford and Son (Steptoe and Son)
Stand By Your Man (Birds of a Feather)
That Was The Week That Was
Three’s A Crowd (Robin's Nest)
Three's Company (Man About The House)
Too Close For Comfort (Keep It in the Family)
Touching Evil
The Weakest Link
What a Country (Mind Your Language)
Whose Line Is It Anyway?
Who Wants To Be A Millionaire?

How many of these are memorable and/or successful? The selling and remaking of Formats is nothing new (although it is a big part of the international television business right now). Reality and Game Show formats are particularly successful today (Survivor and Weakest Link are just two examples).

I just don't think that British humour is easily adapted to the US.

WillyPete · 01-24-2005, 11:05 AM

The English use of irony and sarcasm doesn't translate well to American audiences.

No offense, but American humour is generally non-cerebral. The networks cater to the masses, many of which don't want to think much for their giggles.
Anything 'different' doesn't do well with the ratings.
The UK television shows are a lot less ratings dependant for their survival and where a US show would be canned after 2 episodes, the UK show will last longer, allowing the characters to develop and the audience to see the real humour behind the show's premise. The characters have time to grow on the audience, whereas in the US they have to fight for your time and if the advertisers don't quite like it, then it's put out to pasture.

I think it might be successful, but it won't be the same. There's not really any hook to the show, but for Gervais's cringe-style of humour. Without it, it's just like watching people at work.

Booray · 01-25-2005, 07:55 PM

I thought they had cancelled the idea of doing the remake, but I just read a description of the show and it looks like it'll air in March. The description of the show is almost a complete carbon copy of the original:

From http://www.tvtome.com/tvtome/servlet.../showid-22343/:

Quote:

Welcome to the The Office: An American Workplace guide at TV Tome.

Based on the popular British series of the same name, this faster-paced American version follows the daily interactions of a group of idiosyncratic office employees via a documentary film crew's cameras.

Regional manager Michael (Steve Carell, Come To Papa) thinks he's the coolest, funniest, best boss ever - which, of course, makes him the uncoolest, most obnoxious and annoying boss as far as his staff is concerned. His co-worker Jim (John Krasinski, Kinsey) lusts after engaged receptionist Pam (Jenna Fischer, Miss Match) when he's not sabotaging his cube-mate, the know-it-all Dwight (Rainn Wilson, Six Feet Under).
Ryan Howard (B.J. Novak, Punk'd) is a young, smart, self-possessed temp, who quickly figures out the real office politics despite Michael's attempts to instill the official point-of-view.

Meanwhile, the entire office is constantly worried about the impending staff cuts. Will there be layoffs? Will there be office romance? Will Michael ever shut up? If it's truly a typical office, then the answers are "maybe," "yes," and "absolutely not." (NBC Press Release)

Ridiculous. I wish they'd make more episodes of the original, but it doesn't look like they'll ever make anymore of the BBC Office episodes.

trickyy · 01-27-2005, 08:52 AM

this guy's blog had a link to the pilot a few hours ago. he's also got some "interesting" johnny carson clips.

http://www.panopticist.com/ (blog)
http://groovymother.com.nyud.net:809..._US_Remake.wmv (pilot)

Quote:

Well, someone has put online what appears to be the entire U.S. pilot. I don't know when, or if, this will actually be broadcast. The file is about 39 megabytes, and it's in Windows Media format.

I've only watched a few minutes of it so far, but: It's a mediocre re-creation of the original. The original makes you cringe in a good way; this is making me cringe in a bad way.

I just watched a few more minutes. Wow, this is even worse than I expected.

k1ng · 01-28-2005, 09:58 AM

i just watched the episode mentioned int he post above this, and well.. it's horrible. A lot of the same jokes are used, but the execution of the jokes are way off.

They need to just play the Brittish series over here instead of trying to remake it.

If anyone has not seen the original series, please stop reading my post and go rent/buy it now.

McG · 01-30-2005, 10:09 AM

hehe i watched it too...not funny.

01-22-2005, 07:47 PM	#1 (permalink)
McG Crazy	NBC's Version of the Office Anybody know when it is coming out? I just heard about it. The BBC version was brilliant, but I'm sure the NBC one won't be funny because they have to americanize it.

01-23-2005, 11:22 AM	#4 (permalink)
soccerchamp76 Go Cardinals Location: St. Louis/Cincinnati	I have seen a couple episodes and it is a god-awful show. Not funny in the slightest bit. I will agree on one thing, it was painful to watch. __________________ Brian Griffin: Ah, if my memory serves me, this is the physics department. Chris Griffin: That would explain all the gravity.

01-23-2005, 02:07 PM	#6 (permalink)
CSflim Sky Piercer Location: Ireland	It almost certainly won't be funny. I could be wrong. I would love to be wrong. But I probably won't. The one glimmer of hope is that Ricky Gervais is one of the producers. But in all likelyhood that means nothing at all. For another failed Americanisation see Fawlty Towers. (The original being possibly the best comedy series ever made). __________________

01-24-2005, 09:38 AM	#10 (permalink)
Lebell Cracking the Whip Location: Sexymama's arms...	People are acting like this is a new thing when the truth is that many British hit shows have been imported and "Americanized". As I recall, Three's Company was a takeoff on a British show and turned out well. On the other hand, there was a recent effort to make an American "Fawlty Towers" that was a bust. __________________ "Of all tyrannies, a tyranny exercised for the good of its victims may be the most oppressive. It may be better to live under robber barons than under omnipotent moral busybodies. The robber baron's cruelty may sometimes sleep, his cupidity may at some point be satiated; but those who torment us for our own good will torment us without end, for they do so with the approval of their own conscience." – C. S. Lewis The ONLY sponsors we have are YOU! Please Donate!

01-24-2005, 10:24 AM	#11 (permalink)
Charlatan Getting it. Super Moderator Location: Lion City	I agree Lebell this isn't a new thing... Man about the House was remade as Three's Company... Here is a list of remakes All In The Family (Till Death Us Do Part) Amanda's (Fawlty Towers) American Idol (Pop Idol) Beanes of Boston (Are You Being Served?) Cold Feet Cosby (One Foot In The Grave) Coupling Cracker Dear John First Years (This Life) Foot In The Door (Tom, Dick & Harriet) Hope Island (Ballykissangel) Lotsa Luck (On The Busses) Love Thy Neighbor The Lucy Arnaz Show (Agony) Masterchef Max Headroom Men Behaving Badly My Guide To Becoming A Rock Star (The Young Person's Guide To Becoming A Rock Star) The Office On The Rocks (Porridge) The Ortegas (The Kumars At No. 42) Payne (Fawlty Towers) Queer As Folk Reggie (The Fall and Rise of Reginald Perrin) Sanford and Son (Steptoe and Son) Stand By Your Man (Birds of a Feather) That Was The Week That Was Three’s A Crowd (Robin's Nest) Three's Company (Man About The House) Too Close For Comfort (Keep It in the Family) Touching Evil The Weakest Link What a Country (Mind Your Language) Whose Line Is It Anyway? Who Wants To Be A Millionaire? How many of these are memorable and/or successful? The selling and remaking of Formats is nothing new (although it is a big part of the international television business right now). Reality and Game Show formats are particularly successful today (Survivor and Weakest Link are just two examples). I just don't think that British humour is easily adapted to the US. __________________ "My hands are on fire. Hands are on fire. Ain't got no more time for all you charlatans and liars." - Old Man Luedecke

01-22-2005, 09:37 PM	#2 (permalink)
drakers Psycho Location: IOWA	What are you talking about, I feel left out on this one, someone please explain about the "Office".

01-23-2005, 01:13 AM	#3 (permalink)
McG Crazy	http://www.bbc.co.uk/comedy/theoffice/ Super funny if you like painful humor.

01-23-2005, 12:30 PM	#5 (permalink)
Willravel ... a sort of licensed troubleshooter.	Remember the american translation of Coupling? This isn't going to be pretty.

01-24-2005, 08:54 AM	#7 (permalink)
Sleepyjack Fast'n'Bulbous Location: Australia, Perth	How come america/NBC has to make their own version? The english one is hilarious, why not just show that? I imagine there'd be no humour lost in cultural/lifestyle differences? it should all be pretty universal....?

01-24-2005, 09:07 AM	#9 (permalink)
projectself Upright Location: seattle, wa	bbc's the office is such a good show! british humor and a boss that you just cant stand.

01-24-2005, 11:05 AM	#12 (permalink)
WillyPete Addict	The English use of irony and sarcasm doesn't translate well to American audiences. No offense, but American humour is generally non-cerebral. The networks cater to the masses, many of which don't want to think much for their giggles. Anything 'different' doesn't do well with the ratings. The UK television shows are a lot less ratings dependant for their survival and where a US show would be canned after 2 episodes, the UK show will last longer, allowing the characters to develop and the audience to see the real humour behind the show's premise. The characters have time to grow on the audience, whereas in the US they have to fight for your time and if the advertisers don't quite like it, then it's put out to pasture. I think it might be successful, but it won't be the same. There's not really any hook to the show, but for Gervais's cringe-style of humour. Without it, it's just like watching people at work.

01-28-2005, 09:58 AM	#15 (permalink)
k1ng Nothing Location: Atlanta, GA	i just watched the episode mentioned int he post above this, and well.. it's horrible. A lot of the same jokes are used, but the execution of the jokes are way off. They need to just play the Brittish series over here instead of trying to remake it. If anyone has not seen the original series, please stop reading my post and go rent/buy it now. __________________ "Delight in excellence is easily confused with snobbery by the ignorant." -Joseph Epstein

01-30-2005, 10:09 AM	#16 (permalink)
McG Crazy	hehe i watched it too...not funny.