The Office - British or American? - cougarguard.com — unofficial BYU Cougars / LDS sports, football, basketball forum and message board

bluegoose · 05-19-2006, 06:42 PM

My wife and I just finished watching season 1 of the British version of the office. Has anyone else seen it? If you like the American version, do yourself a favor and go rent the British one as well.

Dang funny stuff. A bit more crass than the American version, but still very funny.

My take on it:

- The boss (I forget their character names) - I love Steve Carel, but the Brit guys is way better in the role.

- Dwight Shrute / Gareth Keenan - This ones a wash, imo. Both are incredibly funny in their own roles.

- the receptionist - My wife definitely prefers the American, and I tend to agree, although the Brit still makes me laugh.

- The other main guy with the crush on the receptionist - total wash as well. both are very funny. The Brit is much harsher on Gareth than the American is on Dwight.

- Other supporting characters - very complimentary in their roles.

Is there an American equivalent of the British "Finchie", the outside sales guy who is best buddies with the boss?

Colly Wolly · 05-19-2006, 06:59 PM

I saw a few episodes of the British first season. I think it is funnier than the American version. Like you said, the boss dude in the British version is much funnier.

mpfunk · 05-19-2006, 07:14 PM

British version is funnier and it all comes down to Ricky Gervais being better in the boss role.

SteelBlue · 05-19-2006, 07:20 PM

Doesn't Gervais produce the American version?

DirtyHippieUTE · 05-19-2006, 08:22 PM

Apples and Oranges...

Despite the fact that they are practically the exact same show, I have never seen a better illustration of the comedic variance on opposite sides of the pond.

If you look at the differences between the two you can reverse engineer a perfect british/american comedy translation.

British version = "crude" penis jokes
American Version = Subtle sexual inuendo

British version = unspoken desire for relationships
American version = overplayed analysis of relationships and personalities.

purplmonkeydishwashr · 05-19-2006, 08:59 PM

The closest guy to Finchie is on of Michael's friends who came to the Christmas party. I don't know the name, but he played the sports anchor on Anchorman. I think.

DirtyHippieUTE · 05-19-2006, 10:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by purplmonkeydishwashr

The closest guy to Finchie is on of Michael's friends who came to the Christmas party. I don't know the name, but he played the sports anchor on Anchorman. I think.

It's the guy who took a crap on his floor in the "hate crime" (The Carpet) episode.

Todd Packer played by David Koechner.

fuegote · 05-19-2006, 11:56 PM

"No I'm not a William Hung fan! Why do people keep asking me that?!"

il Padrino Ute · 05-20-2006, 01:55 AM

Having never seen either show, I can't comment.

However, I think SpongeBob is funnier than Timmy Turner.

non sequitur · 05-20-2006, 04:50 AM

The Brittish version. It's not even close.

05-19-2006, 06:42 PM	#1
bluegoose Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Northern California Posts: 2,919	The Office - British or American? My wife and I just finished watching season 1 of the British version of the office. Has anyone else seen it? If you like the American version, do yourself a favor and go rent the British one as well. Dang funny stuff. A bit more crass than the American version, but still very funny. My take on it: - The boss (I forget their character names) - I love Steve Carel, but the Brit guys is way better in the role. - Dwight Shrute / Gareth Keenan - This ones a wash, imo. Both are incredibly funny in their own roles. - the receptionist - My wife definitely prefers the American, and I tend to agree, although the Brit still makes me laugh. - The other main guy with the crush on the receptionist - total wash as well. both are very funny. The Brit is much harsher on Gareth than the American is on Dwight. - Other supporting characters - very complimentary in their roles. Is there an American equivalent of the British "Finchie", the outside sales guy who is best buddies with the boss?

05-19-2006, 08:22 PM	#5
DirtyHippieUTE Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Moscow, ID Posts: 1,151	Apples and Oranges... Despite the fact that they are practically the exact same show, I have never seen a better illustration of the comedic variance on opposite sides of the pond. If you look at the differences between the two you can reverse engineer a perfect british/american comedy translation. British version = "crude" penis jokes American Version = Subtle sexual inuendo British version = unspoken desire for relationships American version = overplayed analysis of relationships and personalities. __________________ I reject your reality and substitute my own...

05-19-2006, 11:56 PM	#8
fuegote Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Posts: 724	"No I'm not a William Hung fan! Why do people keep asking me that?!" __________________ http://www.cavaliersbrigade.com home of the greatest fans in MLS.

05-20-2006, 01:55 AM	#9
il Padrino Ute Board Pinhead Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: In the basement of my house, Murray, Utah. Posts: 15,941	Having never seen either show, I can't comment. However, I think SpongeBob is funnier than Timmy Turner. __________________ "The beauty of baseball is not having to explain it." - Chuck Shriver "This is now the joke that stupid people laugh at." - Christopher Hitchens on IQ jokes about GWB.

05-20-2006, 04:50 AM	#10
non sequitur Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Posts: 1,964	The Brittish version. It's not even close. __________________ ...You've been under attack for days, there's a soldier down, he's wounded, gangrene's setting in, 'Who's used all the penicillin?' 'Oh, Mark Paxson sir, he's got knob rot off of some tart.'" - Gareth Keenan

05-19-2006, 06:59 PM	#2
Colly Wolly Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Posts: 1,281	I saw a few episodes of the British first season. I think it is funnier than the American version. Like you said, the boss dude in the British version is much funnier.

05-19-2006, 07:14 PM	#3
mpfunk Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Portland, OR Posts: 2,619	British version is funnier and it all comes down to Ricky Gervais being better in the boss role.

05-19-2006, 07:20 PM	#4
SteelBlue Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Norcal Posts: 5,821	Doesn't Gervais produce the American version?

05-19-2006, 08:59 PM	#6
purplmonkeydishwashr Junior Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Roy, UT Posts: 34	The closest guy to Finchie is on of Michael's friends who came to the Christmas party. I don't know the name, but he played the sports anchor on Anchorman. I think.