Why mess with perfection?

Because it's the American way, that's why.

Seriously, though, I am thoroughly peeved at the American bastardization of my beloved The Office. I just watched a series of clips from the new series (look for the video sneak peek) and...it is exactly the same as the British version. Sorry, I should clarify that. It's not as funny, no way. But they are copying the script practically verbatim, with only minor changes in the character names. For example: Tim is now Jim, and Dawn Tinsley is now Pam Beasley. Uh, yeah. Okay. Wow.

I was just speaking with Casey and amidst his various ramblings he actually made an excellent suggestion: Instead of copying the original series, NBC should have made the American version a continuation of the UK version. In Casey's show, the fictional BBC documentary crew would hop across the pond to film an American office environment, and the premise would be that the American boss is terrified of being portrayed like David Brent, but he'd end up looking just as bad. Get it? I thought it was a fantastic idea. Let's film our OWN series. >:|

I will admit that I love Steve Carell (sp?) and I wish him the BEST of luck, because he rocks. So I'll root for the U.S. The Office just for Steve. But NO ONE ELSE.

Comments

[Bombadil]

Just some info. Gervais is all for the American version.

Also, the pilot that you saw is exactly like the British version, but all episodes after that are supposed to be new scripts.

[Tracy]

This is excellent news all around. Thank you to Bombadil our Hollywood reporter at FilmBomb! :)

I should also add that on a more cynical note, I imagine that one of the reasons that Gervais loves the show is because of the BIG FAT CHECKS that he'll be cashing because of it. (He's an exec producer, I hear.)

[Jen]

I absolutely agree with your comments! I've watched the first two episodes of the American version and it is just pathetic. I do think that Carell is funny, but he is just so, so, so very wrong for the "David" part. The American "Gareth" character is awful, the American "Tim" and "Dawn" characters have NO chemistry. I'll watch a few more episodes, but so far, I haven't laughed once at the American version (a couple of smiles at a few lines was the most it got out of me).