Let’s Settle This: British Office vs. American Office
There are great debates and great debates. Lincoln vs. Douglas. Nature vs. Nurture. And then this one…and if you say they’re both good you are, no doubt, a total wussy.
Now I’ll admit that initially this was no contest. British Office all the way. I give anything that is done first–a big head start. The initial first season episodes of the American Office were so similar to the British Office in terms of plot that the American version just seemed appallingly derivative and uninspired. However, with time the American version grew on me quite a bit.
What the American version has that the British version lacks is an amazing extended cast: Angela, Andy, Phyllis, Jan, Bob Vance, Vance Refrigeration. The addition and development of these characters has been a major strength that the British version didn’t have. For one thing, the U.S. version doesn’t just have the Tim/Dawn relationship, or the Pam/Jim relationship for your viewing pleasure. The larger, fleshed-out cast of characters allows all sorts of contrasting pairings: Jan/Michael, Dwight/Angela, the Temp/Kelly, etc. Plus, Toby is amazing.
Of course, the British version has “Free Love on the Free Love Freeway.” That alone is a very big strike in their favor. Another advantage the British office has is it’s over and done. It’s fourteen episode run has a beginning, middle, and end. The Christmas special packs a real emotional punch and ends everything perfectly. It’s a brilliant ending. British television, sponsored by the government as it is, doesn’t have a need to be quite as commercial and extend a hit to the point where the characters and concepts become tiring and annoying. So far the U.S version is still hilarious, but we’ll see how long it can hold up.
The other thing the British version has going for it is that it always played as a believable documentary. The U.S. version takes little to no pains to preserve the original conceit of the show, and while the British version never lets you forget the mind-numbing boredom of office employment, Dunder-Mifflin, quite frankly looks like a fun place to work. I also think the subtlety of the Tim/Dawn relationship is dramatically superior to the Jim/Pam relationship, where I constantly find myself asking what’s stopping those two? How many silly obstacles are the writers going to have throw in their path in seasons to come?
Another way to break it down is by match-ups.
Michael vs. David: Winner: David (And I’m not saying Carell isn’t talented, but Gervais plays it much more real and understated).
Dwight vs. Gareth: Winner: Gareth (Love Shrute/Wilson, but half the time it seems like he’s trying to steal scenes from Carell).
Dawn vs. Pam: Winner: Pam (Yeah, I like Pam)
Tim vs. Jim: Winner: Tim (C’mon, the English are masters of the deadpan expression)
Okay, I’ve decided. The British version is still slightly better than the American version of The Office.
And if you didn’t know the Season 4 premiere of The Office (USA) is this Thursday night.
As an added bonus, my favorite bit of Office dialogue, from the USA version.
Michael: Sounds like a good dentist.
Dwight: Oh yeah…
Michael: What’s his name?
Dwight: (lying) Crentist.
Michael: Your dentist’s name is crentist?
Dwight: Yeah…
Michael: Huh… Sounds a lot like dentist.
Dwight: Maybe that’s why he became a dentist.
Brian - I confess to not having seen the US ‘Office’, but being British and enjoying our unique sense of humour I LOVE the English ‘Office’. I don’t think you can beat Ricky Gervais.
Comment by Rebecca — September 26, 2007 @ 3:17 am
I love the UK version but haven’t watched the US version yet. Does the US version have the part where the Gervais/Carrell character has a meltdown and does that awful dance in front of the whole office? If not, I can confidently claim the UK version wins without seeing the US. That is both one of the funniest and most horrific things I’ve ever seen.
Comment by Brian V — September 26, 2007 @ 4:23 am
The English version wins, hands down for me.
Comment by Summer — September 26, 2007 @ 6:44 am
I vote for English.
Comment by JKC — September 26, 2007 @ 6:55 am
I don’t really think it’s a fair comparison because they are very different animals. I’ll always take a good film over a good long-running TV show and the English Office is more like a film than a long-running TV show: it has a much tighter story arc and is one complete work. The American Office is open-ended and is not and will not be the same kind of cohesive work that the English Office is. Who knows what the English office would be like as a long-running TV show and who knows how the characters would hold up and develop over dozens of episodes.
If I were forced to choose I’d choose the English Office. But for me that’s like choosing Robert Altman’s MASH over TV’s MASH (which I love); or “Paranoid Android” over Kid A.
Head-to-head, I take David over Michael, Pam over Dawn, Tim over Jim, the American fat guy over the English fat guy, the American peripheral characters over the English peripheral characters, and Dwight and Gareth tie.
Comment by Tom — September 26, 2007 @ 7:14 am
I think the US version wins by a country mile because of its broader focus. In the second season and the Christmas special, the scope of the English Office collapsed so spectacularly down into a myopic focus on Gervais’s goofy antics and even physical comedy that it just didn’t live up to the first season — which is the best season of the Office in either version in my opinion. Whereas the later seasons of the US Office have provided a broader scope, more identifiable characters, and actually more realism to some extent.
Comment by RoastedTomatoes — September 26, 2007 @ 7:17 am
Best character on the show.
Comment by Tim J — September 26, 2007 @ 7:26 am
Your point about the extended cast nails it. That’s really why the shows are so hard to compare. For me, the only things “better” about the British Office are 1. the short story arc, and 2. Ricky Gervais. Every other character, head to head, for me, is better in the American version. But still, having said that, Ricky is just so good, and such a dominating force, the British Office wins overall. Notwithstanding Toby (and particularly the Toby v. Michael stuff) being the best thing ever.
Comment by Jeremy — September 26, 2007 @ 7:59 am
Oooooh. It’s like choosing children! Right this second I would say American, but that’s only because I’m excited for Thursday. Depending on my mood, this can easily switch.
David over Michael
Jim and Tim tie
Pam over Dawn
American supporting over English (with the exception of Kelly)
Best Am. dialogue? Where Dwight describes Schrute babies as thirsty as a means of enjoying big breasts.
Comment by gabby — September 26, 2007 @ 8:01 am
I haven’t seen the English version. I decided not to until the American version was done, because I love the American version so much, I didn’t want them competing in my head.
I think the American version is the best show on TV. It has moments where it rivals Arrested Development for brilliance. There’s a scene where Jim walks into Dwight’s hotel room when they’re all away on a business trip and finds Angela in Dwight’s bed, waiting for him. He shuts the door so quickly, he doesn’t recognize her, and assumes she’s a prostitute. The expression on Jim’s face is priceless. Just priceless. We rewound that scene a few times before being able to move past it.
I’m worried they’re going to jump the shark this season, they’re making too many episodes, and I’m not confident they can keep the quality level up.
Comment by Susan M — September 26, 2007 @ 8:28 am
I think you mean British Office, Yanks. After all, the Welsh, Scots, and Northern Irish still have to pay the BBC license fee. Well done, Jeremy.
Comment by The Brit — September 26, 2007 @ 8:28 am
Apples and oranges. The British Office is far more incisive and biting, the American Office hits the heights of the absurd. As RT says, the extended world of the US version is amazing. Those Brits who have not seen the US version (and that requires some viewing, IMHO, past the 1st season) are missing out.
Comment by Supergenius — September 26, 2007 @ 9:04 am
Reruns of The Office (American) are currently running on TBS at 10pm Eastern. I didn’t start watching until the Christmas episode of Season 2 so it’s been fun catching up on what I’ve missed. Last night’s episode on Health Care cuts was rather enjoyable.
Comment by Tim J — September 26, 2007 @ 9:10 am
I haven’t seen either series.
I have heard that Ricky Gervais is one of the richest celebrities in the UK.
Comment by D. Fletcher — September 26, 2007 @ 9:25 am
SG - The US Office isn’t aired in the UK (not on network TV anyway), so we can’t watch it to truly compare (or not I guess if they’re apples and oranges). It seems to be very popular though in the States. I’d watch it given the chance, but since I find Steve Carrell annoying, not sure it’d win me over.
Comment by Rebecca — September 26, 2007 @ 10:21 am
The British Office had me at a stapler suspended in jello.
Although, Jim’s mint experiment was wicked funny.
When Michael went to his “favorite pizza place” in New York and it turned out to be a Sbarro’s? I nearly peed my pants.
Comment by Jennifer — September 26, 2007 @ 10:58 am
Also, the British version makes one cringe. To the point that my husband had to leave the room. Often.
Has the American Office had a musical guest yet? I’ve been wondering about that for a few days now…
Comment by Jennifer — September 26, 2007 @ 11:01 am
No musical guest.
Steve Carrell really does a great job as Michael. You’d hate him if he wasn’t just so completely clueless and eager to be liked.
Comment by Susan M — September 26, 2007 @ 11:13 am
I’m sorry, Steve, but the apples to oranges copout doesn’t fly. We’re not comparing, oh, say THE YOUNG ONES and MONDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL.
These are two shows with identical premises and at least four nearly identical characters. They demand comparison.
In fact, I read an interesting article not long ago comparing THE OFFICEs of various countries, France, Germany, etc. The thesis was that the differences between THE OFFICEs are windows into the cultural differences between the countries they come from. It was fascinating.
Comment by Brian G — September 26, 2007 @ 11:33 am
Brian, I agree that they are the same show, but comparing the styles of comedy doesn’t necessarily enable us to definitely say which is superior. Is British comedy superior to American? I don’t think it’s necessarily fruitful to say, especially since the Canadians are funnier than any other people.
Comment by Supergenius — September 26, 2007 @ 11:43 am
I also disagree that the Brit Office collapsed in the second season and Christmas special.
Personally, I think the Christmas special is what elevated The Office to classic television. The jump forward in time to when David was a failed popstar, and Dawn had gone to America, and Gareth was finallyl in charge was brilliant.
There’s an amazing turn that takes place in the Christmas special where David finally stands up against his obnoxious friend, and the other regional manager he’s been trying to compete with subtlely becomes a villain.
As far as over-the-top physical antics, I think Gervais’s high-jinks are low key compared to Carell.
Comment by Brian G — September 26, 2007 @ 11:46 am
British comedy > American comedy
Comment by Susan M — September 26, 2007 @ 11:48 am
Hmmm…
I know at least one Canadian that isn’t that funny.
Plus, I disagree. It’s frutiful to compare styles of comedy, not only does it provide insight into cultural differences, it broadens one’s understanding of comedy itself. But you know, maybe you just don’t like to think. I can respect that.
Comment by Brian G — September 26, 2007 @ 11:51 am
Brian, you’re misreading me. I didn’t say it wasn’t fruitful to compare styles of comedy, but that it was unfruitful to label one of them as definitively superior. Apparently the profession of “writer” does not include the skill of “reader.”
Comment by Supergenius — September 26, 2007 @ 11:57 am
But Steve I think it’s fruitful to label one as superior, and also to say that one culture is more superior at certain kinds of comedy, or perhaps even comedy in general.
If I say Brits are better at irony and dry wit and Americans are better at broad skit-style comedy, that can be fruitful.
If I say subtle character comedy is superior to fart jokes, then that too can be useful.
Comment by Brian G — September 26, 2007 @ 12:06 pm
love, everyone. just love the office no matter what. don’t fight. cuz season four is premiering tonight.
as for my opinion, i’m sorry, but the british office just makes me too darn uncomfortable. i mean, i know that’s the point of it, but i was cringing like i was the one there. so, i’m not in the “cool british office loving club.” toby is my hero. i look forward to the day when he will snap.
Comment by aubrey — September 26, 2007 @ 12:16 pm
British comedy > American comedy, to Brits.
Buster Keaton, Preston Sturges, Woody Allen, Sid Caesar, Milton Berle, Judy Holliday, Lucille Ball, Carol Burnett, Jerry Seinfeld…
Comment by D. Fletcher — September 26, 2007 @ 1:17 pm
“I’m worried they’re going to jump the shark this season, they’re making too many episodes, and I’m not confident they can keep the quality level up.”
I think this is a serious concern. Jim and Pam hooking up is a pretty hard thing to cope with, story-wise. It could be for “The Office” what Dave and Maddy hooking up was for “Moonlighting.”
Of course, I hope not, and I give the writers enough credit to realize this is a problem, but I’m worried just the same.
Comment by BTD Greg — September 26, 2007 @ 1:18 pm
Aside from the incomparable Gervais, American all the way.
Comment by Eric Russell — September 26, 2007 @ 2:08 pm
I’m actually not too worried about Jim and Pam hooking up, because of the way they handled last season. With Karen still around there’s going to be lots of awkward tension. I think they’ve just got too much of a good thing going and it will ruin it.
Comment by Susan M — September 26, 2007 @ 2:21 pm
And making the temp Michael’s boss was a brilliant move. Hilarious.
Comment by Susan M — September 26, 2007 @ 2:22 pm
Put me with the crowd that witnessed The UK Office collapse in the second season. Something about English humour(!) equating painful, awkward situations with being funny. For example, David Brent playing Tina Turner at a business coaching seminar. It would have been more funny if he’d just stuck to reciting his empty business platitudes that made the first season so good.
Still, the UK Office will always hold a special place in my heart.
Comment by Mephibosheth — September 26, 2007 @ 2:24 pm
British and American. Nature and nurture. Peanut butter and chocolate. False dichotomies suck, Brian. We live in a land of opportunity! And DVRs! We shouldn’t be forced to choose.
Comment by Allison — September 26, 2007 @ 3:03 pm
. . . oh, but put me down with those concerned about the U.S. show going too long. I would rather the show end than turn into a soap opera.
Comment by Allison — September 26, 2007 @ 3:04 pm
I have to vote for the US version if for no other reason than it is based in my home town and makes loads of Scranton related references. It’s like going home for a half hour.
I’ve been looking forward to the same thing.
Comment by John Scherer — September 26, 2007 @ 3:09 pm
I think the last episode of the Office (US) should feature Chris Martin of Coldplay singing Fix You in a greatest hits t-shirt. Jumping a shark.
Monty Python, Rowan Atkinson, Eddie Izzard, Dudley Moore & Peter Cook, Frye & Laurie, Benny Hill, French and Saunders, Black Books, Spaced, Red Dwarf, Simon Pegg, Jessica Stevenson, Mark Heap, Ricky Gervais, Tamsin Greig, Jonathan Ross, Billy Connolly, Spike Milligan, Peter Sellers, Douglas Adams, Adrian Edmondson, Rik Mayall, Danny John-Jules, Joanna Lumley, Sacha Baron Cohen and Bill Bailey
Supergenius - eh? Besides SCTV & Kids in the Hall, what do Canadians have? Terrance & Phillip?
Comment by Jennifer — September 26, 2007 @ 3:51 pm
36 comments and no mention of Creed?
Comment by a random John — September 26, 2007 @ 5:14 pm
Creed’s the best character on either show, IMO. He’s so incredibly weird and so ignored by everybody. Hilarious.
Comment by Allison — September 26, 2007 @ 6:00 pm
Jennifer, pshaw. Don’t make me google the list of Famous Canadian Comedians.
Comment by Supergenius — September 26, 2007 @ 6:05 pm
Haha. They’re just about all Canadian. All the great American comedians are Canadian, I mean.
Comment by Susan M — September 26, 2007 @ 6:57 pm
Have they licensed this like Millionare and Pop Idol? Is there a Thai version? A Russian office?
Comment by a random John — September 26, 2007 @ 7:23 pm
While we’re at it, which is better, the US or UK version of Who’s the Boss?
Comment by a random John — September 26, 2007 @ 7:24 pm
Or Three’s Company? (Robin’s Nest in the UK)
Or…dang, can’t remember any of the other ones I used to watch.
Comment by Susan M — September 26, 2007 @ 8:29 pm
i have just come to the realization that today is wednesday.
Comment by aubrey — September 26, 2007 @ 8:39 pm
Oh wait—I think 3’s Company = Man About the House? And Robin’s Nest was the spinoff when Jack had his own show.
Comment by Susan M — September 26, 2007 @ 8:50 pm
I agree with RT (#6) and Jeremy (#8) and for those reasons vote for the American version. The extended cast makes the show more interesting and rich. Also, I like the fact that the writers give Michael some redeeming graces, whereas David Brent in the UK version is just pure scum. Michael is a real jerk but deep down actually cares about, even “loves” in a really creepy way, his underlings. Also, even though he is a complete idiot, he is actually a really good salesman, which serves as a redeeming grace. I’m thinking here of the episodes where Jan accompanies him to a sales pitch at Chili’s and Michael handles it professionally, even superbly, sealing the deal that Jan never would have gotten. It shows that Michael has been promoted above his level of competency, that he should still be one of the salespeople. Also, you get to see Michael’s abilities as a salesman when he goes on the sales call with Andy and Andy screws things up irrebarably.
I love the addition of Andy to the office, by the way — it’s hilarious.
Our current favorite one-liner from the U.S. office around our house is from “The Injury” when Ryan says:
“They did not have fresh yams at the gas station in Carbondale!” I don’t know why, but we’ve always found that very funny.
Comment by john f. — September 27, 2007 @ 6:42 am
“Let’s see, which college did you go to again? — Cor-NOT!” — Andy Bernard to Dwight in elevator on the way to work shortly after the merger.
That was right after he said to Dwight, “1985 called and wants its car back.”
Comment by john f. — September 27, 2007 @ 7:06 am
The article Brian G mentions in #19: http://www.slate.com/id/2150015/
Comment by William Morris — September 27, 2007 @ 9:30 am
I just don’t think it’s true that David Brent is pure scum. He has his redeeming moments in the Christmas special when he finally stands up to his crass friend. All the U.S. writers and performers have taken their cues from the English version, and I think that includes making David/Michael more sympathetic and human.
Comment by Brian G — September 27, 2007 @ 11:06 am
I agree with that moment in the Christmas episode and thought it was out of character for what they had made David before.
Comment by john f. — September 27, 2007 @ 12:34 pm
Back in comment No. 30, Susan M said:
Or…not.
Huh.
Comment by BTD Greg — September 27, 2007 @ 11:23 pm
I thought it was very funny when nobody knew for sure if they were hooking up. I wish they would have kept that gag going for a while longer.
Last night’s episode should have been half as long.
Comment by Allison — September 28, 2007 @ 4:12 pm
Yeah, what happened to Karen? I loved having her on the show if only cuz she’s that one guy’s daughter…the fancy record producer—Quincy Jones.
That’s the way all the hour-long episodes are probably going to be, Allison. I still love it, though.
Comment by Susan M — September 28, 2007 @ 5:59 pm
I think the hour long episodes just play like two half hours glued together.
And I think Karen will probably be back.
Comment by Brian G — September 28, 2007 @ 6:59 pm
I think it played like an episode of The Simpsons. Start with something shocking, run with that for the first third of the show. Then use it as some sort of non-sequitor inspiration for the plot of the bulk of the show. I mean really, what does Meredith getting hit by Michael have to do with a 5k fun run? Then at the end find some way to attempt to resolve everything and come full circle.
I also thought that this is what an episode would look like if they simply inserted all the deleted scenes that come on the DVDs.
Comment by a random John — September 28, 2007 @ 9:00 pm
Sorry folks - this still clinches it for the British version:
http://youtube.com/watch?v=AKpybGYozeE
Unbeatable!
Comment by Brian V — October 1, 2007 @ 4:24 am
And that is why we British love Ricky Gervais!
Comment by Rebecca — October 1, 2007 @ 6:08 am
Love both versions for similar and different reasons.
The David vs. Michael question is most interesting to me.
On the one hand, David Brent has driven me to far more fits of paroxysm than Michael Scott. Even minor throwaway lines and subtle asides by Brent force me to pause and rewind, and rewind again, each time making my double over with laughter. Michael Scott is very funny, but doesn’t push me to such zany, drunk-on-laughter heights.
On the other hand, David Brent sometimes pushes the subtle, but ever-so-important, boundaries of plausibility past the breaking point. Once it becomes unbelievable it also becomes unfunny. This happens often enough, especially in Season 2, that it kind of ruins some episodes for me. We have to buy the idea that despite their incompetence, Michael Scott and David Brent still possess enough redeeming qualities as managers to keep their jobs. Both shows bend this reality further than real life, but the English version pushes to the breaking point more than the American version, in my opinion.
Still, both shows are among my all-time favorite comedies. The fact that the American remake can honor the spirit of the British version, and yet remain artistic and original in its own right, is pretty amazing given the recent track record of American sitcoms.
Comment by Matt Thurston — October 2, 2007 @ 7:40 pm
SuperG,
I double dog dare you.
Comment by Jennifer — October 16, 2007 @ 1:33 pm
hee!
Comment by Supergenius — October 16, 2007 @ 1:40 pm