My friend, you are not David Brent
typed for your pleasure on 25 March 2005, at 11.53 amSdtrk: ‘Swinging bachelor pad’ by Vitesse
Last night, I voluntarily watched the pilot episode of the american version of ‘The office’. I don’t normally watch broadcast television, in fact, I really haven’t watched telly since ‘Seinfeld’ went off the air, and I wasn’t even aware there was a bastardised version of ‘The office’ due to air over here; I was helping my mother with her computer, and I saw it mentioned on the TV listings, so I decided, why not?
Yep, it was shite. I mean, I knew it was going to be shite, but I suppose I had to confirm it. Over the course of 22min, I audibly laughed three times. That’s cos, gee, I’d already seen the first episode before. Seriously, it was the same damn episode as the original pilot — same gags and everything — only with americans in place of the British cast.
Turns out Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant are executive producers of it as well. Did you guys need rent money or something?? Why did you feel it was necessary to take a brilliant show, and essentially cut off its balls? I mean, there’s no way they’re gonna be able to come up with something equal to the gag featuring Tim and the dildo over here. And I’m thinking the Finchy character isn’t going to be nearly as funny, since 98% of his speech pattern is really horrible sexual innuendo.
O well. I’ve seen it, so now I can forget it exists. I had to watch the entire first disk of the boxset to wash the bad taste off my brain, so the evening wasn’t a total disaster.
I think later on at some point, I’m going to have to explain to you, the casual viewer of ‘Shouting etc etc’, why I despise most remakes, but right now I have to leave my house. Wish me luck!
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March 28th, 2005 at 9.40 am
Why didn`t they just show the English version. Can you imagine an American Monty Python, Fawlty Towers or the like?
March 28th, 2005 at 11.14 am
An American Fawlty Towers would be hideous, and we already have a version of Monty Python — they call it ‘Saturday night Live’. It used to be good, but I haven’t watched it since the mid-90s..
Actually, if you have cable, there’s the American division of the BBC, called (oddly enough) BBC America, where they aired the entire run of ‘The office’ as well as handfuls of other shows from the UK, complete and unadulterated. But the bastardised version of the show is marketed towards those provinical types of americans that can barely understand people with Bostonian accents, let alone Scouser.
Personally, I don’t think the show will do all that well, myself. Truth be told, I’m hoping that it doesn’t.