The Office

[binny]

I thought tonight's episode was right up there with "Diversity Day," if not better. One of the "party biatches" was hilarious when she said green streamers should be avoided because green is "whorey." Oh, and then the image of Dwight slowly emerging from the cardboard box was great.

I'm starting to warm up to the friction between Dwight and Jim's (much more apparent in this episode, because of their "alliance") characters, but their relationship is still no where as funny as Gareth and Tim's in the original series.

[marywebgirl]

I don't think the Jim/Dwight thing is going to be near as funny as Tim/Gareth because Dwight is so damn creepy, whereas Gareth was just pathetic. I think it's a good change so the characters are different, and the actor does creepy very well.

[Maddiemoo]

Anyone still watching this show? The season premiere was on last night and I loved it. The Dundies absolutely killed me, especially with Dwight and his attempts to add sound effects and the adorable cuteness between Jim and Pam. I also liked how the whole office kinda attempted to make Michael feel better after his cole-slaw attack (that was cole-slaw, right?) from those frat boys. I thought it was a nice moment that prevented the group from becoming too mean to poor Michael. (Or should I call him Ping?)

[Deleted]

I loved the last two episodes of season one (the Hot Girl episode has true moments of comedy gold) and was excited for the return of the show. I watched it and enjoyed it but it seemes "nicer". Like there weren't as many awkward pauses, and the workplace doesn't seem like hell on earth. Plus, Steve Carell looks WAY hotter. Like, I know he lost weight for 40 Year Old Virgin, but they gave him nicer hair and nicer clothes and just made him look more "television appropriate".

I like the show and think it is probably a good thing that it is starting to feel more like an organic sitcom rather than a copy of a British original. Part of what made The UK Office so great was the way that the characters felt real. I like that things are sort of veering off course and that I don't necessarily look at the character of Dwight and think "Oh, that is so Gareth" and that I have stopped trying to find the US version of Keith. I have started to enjoy the characters on their own terms, not the pre-existing terms set by the beloved (by me) British original.

[Hamatron]

I orginally saw the American version first, and loved it. Then I Netflixed the British version and loved that too. Then I tried to rewatch the American version this summer and couldn't enjoy it-- it seemed too much like a hygenic version of the original. I think I will try it again though since at one time I really dug it-- and since it's Americanized it probably won't end on the massive downer that the British one did... though I like the downer ending... but I want there to be hope for the secretary and... Keith (?) dude. Don't know if I needed to spoiler that, but I figure I would in case anyone hasn't seen the UK version and wants to.

[marywebgirl]

Hamatron, I think you need to Netflix the Christmas specials, stat.

[Deleted]

I also liked how the whole office kinda attempted to make Michael feel better after his cole-slaw attack (that was cole-slaw, right?) from those frat boys. I thought it was a nice moment that prevented the group from becoming too mean to poor Michael. (Or should I call him Ping?)

I loved that. That was my favorite aspect of the British one. It's almost like that old feeling of "I can call my sister ugly but no one else can" kind of thing. The staff can make fun of Michael and they can hate him but no one else can because he's THEIR boss. Awesome. You don't let people outside your family make fun of your family.

The dundies were also awesome because of the fact that my work does that same thing. Only ours are at Dave & Busters. You don't know pain until you're sitting in Dave & Busters next to someone who just won the "Wears Many Hats" award which is merely a bunch of hats glued on top of each other. The painful part? You're sort of jealous because you just won the "Smiles" award. Which was a paper certificate with a smile on it. And you don't know why you won it because you don't smile that much but no one is clever enough to come up with an ironic award. Agh. I'm veering off topic. Anyway, this Christmas I've heard from those on the party committee that we will be playing games and one of these games is (and I am not joking) "Pin the Tail on the Boss".

The Office is so true it hurts. It hurts.

[Maddiemoo]

"I can call my sister ugly but no one else can"

That's a great example! That whole scene was uncomfortable but in the end, very sweet. And when they all applauded for him during Pam's speech, it just warmed the cockles of my cold, dead heart.

I've only seen about 10 minutes of the UK version (I think it was the special) so I can't really compare, but I think it's best not to. I think the US version is hilarious and I'm sure the UK one is too, but to decide which one is better is kind of pointless. Can't we enjoy both?

[johnboysmole]

I haven't watched the original British version of the show, and that must a huge difference. I absolutely love this show. Part of its charm is how real the characters look. They're all wearing hairstyles that you see in your own office. I love a show that embraces the characters' physical imperfections without shining a spotlight on them. The average blandness of the characters makes it stand out.

I relish the awkwardness!

[Deleted]

This is my current Must see favorite show. I love this show. My office mates and I watch this show and rehash it to death. The main reason is because we have a Dwight. Physically they look totally different but their personalities are frightentingly identical. Imagine working with a Dwight day in and day out. He is JUST THAT BAD.

Last week when he asked the HR guy what a clitoris was I about died. Then I came to work and saw "our" Dwight and almost barfed because he totally would do that same thing.
Ewwwwwwwww.

We even exclusively refer to our co-worker as Dwight behind his back. I sometimes forget he has a real name.