Anyone heard anythign about this? I guess it airs today or tomorrow and is about some guys at the office or something .. anyways I heard it could be good?

Here is some information.

The Office
NBC Mar 24 09:30pm
Series/Comedy, 29 Mins.
"Pilot"
When a documentary crew arrives at Mifflin, manager Michael Scott attempts to paint a rosy picture but fails after learning the company will be downsizing.

Cast: Steve Carell, Steve Carell, Jenna Fischer, John Krasinski, Rainn Wilson, B.J. Novak.
Producer(s): Ben Silverman, Greg Daniels, Ricky Gervais, Stephen Merchant, Howard Klein .

Original Airdate: March 24, 2005 - This Thursday.

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Future Airings:
The Office, KNBC Mar 29 09:30pm - Next Tuesday

Eagle, it's the latest remake of a BBC show for NBC (Men Behaving Badly, Friends)

The original is probably one of the funniest and smartest shows I've ever seen (It won Best Comedy at the Golden Globes for Series II and it's star/co-creator Ricky Gervais won Best Comedic Actor). I'm not sure if Steve Carell can fill Gervais' shoes but I love him in Anchorman and The Daily Show so I'm still excited and optimistic.

The entire show is dead pan and without a laugh track. A lot of the jokes are based on uncomfortable subject matter (sex, race, religion, handicaps). I would compare it to a cross between a mockumentary and Curb Your Enthusiasm.

Also, NBC's first episode is a remake of a BBC episode, whereas the rest of the season will have original storylines.

As this is on NBC, GOLDIE doubts that NBC will do it the same way as is bolded above and done by the BBC.

Time will tell.

Also wasn't there a similar popular show last year molded from the BBC and it failed as it was Americanized.

You guys know this is going to suck. Imho even the British version failed at what it set out to do and America certainly isnt receptive to similar shows.

Reviews have been mixed for the remake (I seem to recall you're not of fan of Gervais). Outside of cable, high concept sitcoms don't do well stateside.

I'll watch the show just because Brick Tamland is in it :razz:

Critics weigh in

http://www.aintitcoolnews.com/display.cgi?id=19720

Herc’s Seen NBC’s THE OFFICE!! He declares it the network’s best sitcom!!
Yes, this is the best sitcom NBC is airing at the moment, and something that could easily evolve into the next “NewsRadio”! The Steve Carrell character is a monster (“monster” in the bad way) and I hope it’s revealed soon that he is the owner’s son or son-in-law or nephew. Otherwise it makes little sense that someone as horrifyingly and chillingly incompetent could ever rise to middle-management. Carrell achieved god-like status in Herc’s eyes for his work in the feature “Anchorman,” but what’s to love about this show is the supporting cast. I am in love with the insecure receptionist, played by Jenna Fischer, who is a cross between Maura Tierney and Mary Lynn Rajskub. And I am completely invested in the John Krasinski character’s pursuit of her. And Rainn Wilson may be the new Fred Willard. But what matters Herc’s opinion?

The Hollywood Reporter says:
… captures the universally dispiriting experience of office life … Carrell is nothing short of superb in crafting his own version of a boss who is utterly unaware of how he is perceived by others. Given the limited reach of "The Office" on BBC America, Carrell will set the American standard for administrative pomposity and pretension. … He is surrounded by a versatile cast chosen, in part, for their skill at improvisation. Jenna Fischer is delightful as the sweet but frustrated receptionist, Pam. John Krasinski smartly portrays Jim, the bored practical joker of the office. Rainn Wilson is hilarious as Dwight, the tightly wound office geek and toady and the character most altered from the BBC show. … It is ironic that this series, though an adaptation, is one of the most unique and creative new comedies on NBC in years.

Variety says:
… The well-traveled Carell is a very talented guy, from "The Daily Show" to "Anchorman," but understatement and restraint are hardly his forte. As a consequence, he plays Michael bigger, and therefore harder to endure, than Gervais did -- a fine line that's significant in such a delicately balanced comedy. … On the plus side, the remainder of the cast refreshingly looks like real people, and some moments in the second and third episodes are extremely funny. … doesn't ascend to the heights of a water-cooler show. …

Entertainment Weekly gives it a “B” and says:
… painfully genuine … the new sitcom is clever and insular, capturing all the drudgery, awkwardness, and rivalry of cubicle living. … NBC could have ruined the delicate dynamic of The Office by over-Americanizing it. Some exec, at some point, must have floated the idea of morphing Pam into an Andersonian chesty blond babe. Instead, played by the sweet-faced Fischer with an air of humor and neglect, Pam's the kind of woman who doesn't bother to finish brushing her hair because, really, who notices? Fischer and Krasinski have a gentle chemistry that should be fun to watch as Jim and Pam's attraction develops. Meanwhile, Rainn Wilson, in the easy-to-overdo role of sycophant Dwight, reins in his nerd vibe just short of Urkel territory. …

USA Today gives it two and a half stars and says:
… in defense of the Americanized version, most people haven't seen the original, and, as copies go, this Office at least is not the clear-the-hall disaster that was NBC's remake of the lesser Brit hit Coupling. … at its best in a later episode, as one of Michael's racist jokes leads the company to hold a diversity day. The outing is filled with moments that make you cringe in discomfort and recognition, as when Michael blithely asks a Mexican employee, "Is there a term besides Mexican that you prefer? Something less offensive?" …

Sounds good. \:D/

A few more

http://www.imdb.com

TV critics are delivering mixed notices to the American version of the hit British sitcom The Office, which is scheduled to debut on NBC Thursday. David Bianculli in the New York Daily News finds it "neither daring nor funny" and, compared to the original, "NBC's version is so diluted, there's little left but muddy water." Paul Brownfield in the Los Angeles Times, while admiring its "intelligent writing" says that it can only "simulate the heart and wit" of the BBC original. On the other hand, Austin American-Statesman TV writer Diane Holloway concludes, "The show captures the original essence," adding that "it's oddly, slyly funny, a thoroughly wicked take on office culture." Likewise, Joanne Ostrow in the Denver Post comments that "it retains the quiet, desperate, hilarious mock-umentary style of the original. More surprisingly, it respects the intelligence of the American audience." And Mike Duffy in the Detroit Free Press describes it simply as "a slaphappy minor miracle."

:wf:

I don't know if clever and American TV could EVER go hand and hand, so if it does end up being clever and original (something NBC has rarely been known for), I doubt the audiences will tune in. Sadly, the truth.

What about Seinfeld?

uuuh!, i cant wait for this show!!

it looks pretty damn funny!

I said rarely, didn't I? I think The Office will probably be like Watching Ellie (another Steve Carell show, and another innovative series, however wasn't great, just so-so). It will come back next year, but probably won't last. I don't see it lasting, no matter how good it is. Arrested Development is a great show, and look at those ratings.

I don't see how it has a chance of working. It is trying to carve out a niche of people who like that kind of show but have never seen the BBC version. That's not a lot of people.

Anyway the US did it all better 10 years ago with the Garry Shandling show which is pretty similar to the Office with the same fly on the wall documentary style and deadpan dry humor and likeable yet creepy boss.

The Office will be looked at as Office Space: The Series, it will probably be a small hit.

Deadpan and dark humour are not my thing in the sense that im happy to dish out sarcasm and cynical jokes; but i find watching it tedious and uninspired; television and movies are about escapism for me and maybe theres a line at too much realism that is crossed with the genres.

Thefutoncritic.com raved about it.

It was pretty funny.

Its kind of dissappointing. There were some funny moments but quite alot of jokes seem to fall flat to me especially the jello joke. Maybe it will get better with each episode

This ep was a shot by shot joke by joke remake of the BBC Downsize episode. I think somethings were lost in translation. But I enjoyed it.

I think Gervais' David Brent is better suited for the format of the show than Carrell's Michael Scott. Scott makes you wonder how he ever got his job, he's too incompetent. With Brent, he seemed charming yet incompetent. A bit of a difference.

I thought it was freaking hilarious.

It is now the only sitcom I will tune into on a regular basis, which is really saying something ... I rarely watch tv.

I absolutly loved it, hope it does well, and hope the episodes are good, one bad episode and I will likely stop watching.

regardless the awkward pauses, the situational comedy ... O man when he pretend fired the secratary I was dying.


Are they planning on keeping this filming style forever? The camera kind of documenting and such? Not that I care, just curious.

The entire premise is based around a documentary filming at the company. So yeah, it's staying. And no laugh tracks either.

The BBC show is still much better but I'm looking forward to original American storylines

I love, absoluetly adore the original "Office" - I guess you can tell by my signature.

Regardless, I am curious about the outcome of the american version and will try to watch it somehow. And have to admit that mexican joke is hilarious...

i didnt like it!, i got some good laughs here and there, but it was very very annoying!

maybe that not my kind of Humor!

I loved it..Im a fan of BEst in Show, and Drop Dead Gorgeous and things like that, so this mockementary was classic. I liked it.

so whats its new time on tuesday ... 930 or 830?