Like everything from cultural imperialism to one specific type of muffin, The Office was a British idea copied by the Americans.
Both the British and American versions of The Office have been stormed the ratings, both the British and American versions of The Office have mined comedy from awkward and mundane situations and both the British and American versions of The Office have spawned movie stars, as seen in everything from Get Smart to Love, Actually to Pirates Of The Caribbean to that rubbishy George Clooney film about American football.
But which is better – the British Office or the American Office? It’s a debate that everyone has an opinion on but nobody has comprehensively won. And that’s why we’re here now. Using a complex scientific algorythm based on five categories, we’ve decided to find out which version of The Office is best. You may disagree with us if you like. Just know that if you do, you’re wrong…
BEST MANAGER
Gervais
Carrell
The most important factor of The Office is the manager, whether it’s Britain’s David Brent or America’s Michael Scott, because the entire show hangs around their actions. Both are essentially the same character – awkward, overcompensatory show-offs without a shred of self-awareness – but, although Michael Scott has long since developed into a more rounded character, he’s never quite managed to capture the stupefying arrogance of David Brent.
UK: 1 – US: 0
BEST LOVE STORY
UK -
US -
Tim and Dawn or Jim and Pam? Same syllables. Same longing looks. Same dowdy cuteness and unflattering haircuts. But, again, the difference between the British Office and the American Office is one of time. It was easy to string out Tim and Dawn’s unspoken office romance over the two short seasons of the BBC Office, ending the entire show with the flourish everyone craved. That wouldn’t work with Jim and Pam because there are just too many episodes of the NBC Office for it to stay fresh. That’s why we had to suffer through uncomfortably daytime soapish exchanges like the one above before they actually got together. And stayed together. And got a bit boring. Another point to the UK.
UK: 2 – US: 0
BEST SUPPORTING CAST
Keith’s appraisal
Kelly
Here’s where the sheer amount of NBC Office episodes actually work. Although funny, the BBC Office supporting characters are never more than broad sketches, and most scenes they’re in all depend on reactions to or from Ricky Gervais for humour. Meanwhile, over on NBC, some of the best comedy writer-performers around have been cast to flesh out the parts and create a network that exists outside of Michael Scott’s involvement. It’s probably the American Office‘s greatest achievement, so it can claw back a point here.
UK:2 – US: 1
ULTIMATE LEGACY
Dance
That’s what she said
A big one – what will each respective version of The Office be most fondly remembered for. The BBC’s Office, without question, has The Dance – a moment that won’t only be reenacted in pubs and playgrounds until the end of time, but will ensure that even if he cures cancer and wins the Nobel Prize, someone at the ceremony will yell “DO THE DANCE!” at Ricky Gervais. And he will do it. Meanwhile, NBC has “That’s what she said,” a smart, short, sophisticated line that anybody can drop into any conversation without looking too much like a copycat bellend. Plus people won’t think you’re a tit if you do it in public, which pushes it a million light years past The Dance.
UK: 2 – US: 2
FUNNIEST MOMENT
UK
US
The Office – Lady Suit
A contentious one, we know – it’s difficult enough to get people to agree on the funniest moments from any given episode of The Office regardless of which country it’s made, let alone the entirity of both shows combined. But screw it, this is our list and it’s scientific and if you don’t agree then you hate science. In the UK Office, Ricky Gervais grabs a serious moment and spins it into the stratosphere, while Steve Carrell’s scene is a masterpiece of escalation. But science tells us that Gervais shades it. You hear that, haters? SCIENCE.
UK: 3 – US: 2
So that’s it. Conclusive proof that the British version of The Office is slightly funnier than the American version of The Office. However, if we were doing a side-by-side comparison of British and American versions of Extras, America would have won. Even though there isn’t an American version of Extras. Basically we’re saying that Extras wasn’t particularly good.
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I actually fell asleep watching an epsiode of the UK Office, maybe it was because it was on late or maybe it was so boring that it lost my interest. I don’t find Ricky Gervais, funny at all. He just come across as a cynical asshole, who’s so full of himself that it’s absurd. I think the U.S. Office has an outstanding cast, enetertaining storylines, humerous jokes and great team of writers. If you want to pick a truely great british comedy that does British style humor justice, I would give it to The Black Adder.
I’m American, raised on American sitcoms, and I think the British version is a MILLION TIMES BETTER! But don’t get me wrong, I think the American one is excellent, and consistently one of the best shows on American TV.
I think the brevity of the British version is what makes it great. 14 episodes, and done! The American one, with 23 episodes a season, 8 seasons now?…it’s just too much sometimes (although each ep always seems to make me laugh out loud). I guess I just think the British one has more heart and soul because it was so short (though they both have heart and soul). David Brent is a tragic figure. The Tim and Dawn story is heart-breaking. I’ve read a lot of the above comments. I think if the pro-US viewers just kept watching the UK version, and not give up after one or two episodes (like I almost did), you will “get” it. David matures and redeems himself in the end, and Tim and Dawn finally get together in one of the most romantic ways I’ve ever seen on TV or movies (and a million times more romantic than the Jim and Pam story).
I think both bosses are awesome, and I love both Gareth and Dwight. But I do think the Tim and Dawn love story is better than Jim and Pam. But again, it’s because it was dragged on and on, and got boring. I like both Jim and Pam as characters, but it just DRAGGED…”brevity is the soul of wit.” -William Shakespeare.
Another thing that bothered me about the American version is that the characters don’t seem to act as if they’re on a reality show that will be broadcasted later on like, TLC, or Bravo, or KPBS or whatever. Whenever Dwight says “and no one will ever know it was me who did it!”, I always think “yes they will, when they watch the rebroadcast dude!!!” Ugh, that annoys me. In the UK version, they always seemed to be aware that they are being taped, and that they often acknowledged that episodes will be (and in the holiday special were already) aired.
But I will admit, as some of you have said, it was hard for me, as an American, to get all the different accents. And I don’t think that makes me dumb. Seriously, I still don’t get have the shit Finchy said! And also, they reference a lot of old British sitcoms and British celebs that we couldn’t possibly get. But I was able to look past that. I got the gist of it. (Fawlty Towers is awesome, btw…)
The US version should be commended for staying funny and fresh for so long, but the British version has stolen my heart (man, that’s cheesy). But lastly, if it wasn’t for the British version, there would be no American version. Or French version. Or French-Canadian version. Or Chilean version. Or German version. Or Swedish version.
Wait a minute, shouldn’t the fact that so many countries made their own versions based on the UK version tell you that the UK version is AMAZING and it’s maybe that you’re just not getting it?
hey I bet this was some british fuck doing this review its cool to have country pride but just remember the AMERICAN REVOLUTION…… america!!!!! so quit being byes you uk fuck ….the office america wins this thats why it lasted 8 seasons …. suck that…you BOSTON TEA PARTY FUCK
ok so you’re an idiot. the uk version ended after two seasons because unlike most americans, the British believe that everything must end at an appropriate time. all the best shows have had shorter runs with fewer episodes ( the inbetweeners, the thick of it, keeping up appearances, blackadder to name a few), than most american Tv ( smallville, 24, dexter, desperate housewives to name a few ). 24 1 hour episodes over 6-10 seasons is ridiculous. keep it short, sweet and to the point!!!! americans love to milk the life out of an idea …
Gervais choose to end it, idiot.
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