I happened to watch a bit of The Office the other day. I couldn't help but check it out since some of my co-workers talk about it like it's better than the invention of peanut butter, honey and banana sandwiches. You know the kind, all sliced up into different shapes.
Anyways, what I saw was a sham. A ripoff. Unoriginal and disgraceful.
Why you ask? Oh, good question. I'll tell you why, you little Motherfutons.
Not only is the premise, plotlines and overall idea identical to the UK version, they were taking lines VERBATIM from the original version of The Office. You know, the one with Ricky Gervais. The one that is 50 times more clever, witty, and humorous than the US version will ever be.
Now, before you start calling me out as a Commie, I'll have you know, that I support our troops, but I just can't get behind anything that is a ripoff. Can you honestly tell me that if a situation comedy about nothing aired in the US called 'Steinman' with characters named, Gary, Elise, Jaymer, and Dubya, that you wouldn't scream, "RIPOFF!"? The Office airing on NBC is a second rate, second hand show. Always will be.
P.S. Yes, yes I know that Ricky Gervais was producing some of the pilot episodes. You would too if a desperate network like NBC offered you a Futonload of cash to use your idea... especially since you moved on to better things.
P.P.S. If you haven't watched the ORIGINAL version, available on DVD everywhere, then your right to call the US version the best, just went out the Motherfuton window.
ysbl says,
yeah i agree. i mean come on how funny is Gareth? especially in army mode. brilliant!
i can't believe they used THE EXACT SAME LINES. sorry for the yelling. BUTT, i say the american version is still better than most of the other crap being broadcast on network television.
Posted @ November 16, 2005Noah says,
Better than Lost? I thinketh noteth.
Posted @ November 16, 2005Ryan Sims says,
Don't agree. Sorry, futon. Steve Carrell is an effing riot in my book.
Posted @ November 16, 2005P.S. - isn't your comment preview a direct rip-off from The Big Noob? Just curious.
Noah says,
Ryan - I trust you've adhere'd to my P.P.S, and you've seen the UK version... in that case, we can agree to disagree. As for the comment preview, it is from Scriptygoddess. Note the 2002 in the date... it's nothing new...
Posted @ November 16, 2005Ryan Sims says,
scriptygoddess... I could swear I remember you asking me for the Javascript for that... hmmm.
Posted @ November 16, 2005***looking into my iChat archives.***
Noah says,
That could have been b/c your script didn't work...
Posted @ November 16, 2005niko says,
so it wasn't the best episode ever. i still like all characters and acting better on the us version except for the manager. uk manager just has better timing. i still like us manager. but if i had to compare.
Posted @ November 16, 2005Japnibash Vindaloo (of Bangalore) says,
Aww sit. You didn't.
You did! That's like steppin on your boy's kicks, man.
A gattin' offense.
Posted @ November 16, 2005Gratty Tetsenarse says,
One thing I am tired of: how many people gotta drop the "I watch BBCAmerica, so I am smarter and less culturally sequestered than yoooo" thing? Why is it so often done by spewing off about the UK version of the Office?
The fact that you manage to stomach any American TV disqualifies you from whining about it. Besides--If you were (like I was, but I'm smarter and better traveled than you) trapped with only BBC, Ch4 and ITN for years and years, you'd die to watch a little good ol' fashioned American mindlessness with adverts.
Posted @ November 16, 2005Sharif says,
I thought they only "remade the pilot" episode? It was a straight-up line-for-line remake, just slightly Americanized.
The rest of the first season, and all of the second are totally original. Well, not totally, since the characters and premise are the same. But, the plot lines are new.
Posted @ November 17, 2005Noah says,
Sharif - Have you seen the UK version?
Posted @ November 17, 2005Sharif says,
Noah, I have seen them and loved them. Hands down, the UK version is better than the American version.
And granted the characters, setting, premise and all that were lifted straight from the UK version, so there is a little rip-off going there.
But the American episodes have different story lines, some of which have actually been quite funny this second season.
Posted @ November 18, 2005Noah says,
Sharif - Well stated. Oh, and welcome to the Futon.
Posted @ November 18, 2005