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[clemsonfan]

We watched a little bit of it last night. Although it was not as near as good as the original UK version, it was ok. It wasn't as bad as I expected. I'll probably try to catch the next one as well.

[Juliana]

I thought they did a pretty good job of it. It's still that weird not really funny, but it's funny anyway "uncomfortable humor," but it's not quite as bad (or good, depending on how you look at it) as the British one about it all.

Apparently while the pilot (last night's) was taken directly from the British one, with some different touches (the thing with the pencils was AWESOME), the rest of the scripts will be like 90% original and only 10% taken from the British version.

I think that any of you who love the original who went in with an open mind should have dug this. It's got the original sensibilities of the british show (agian, that weird "uncomfortable humor"), but with an American approach.

I didn't really like the receptionist (Pam), but then the British receptionist (Dawn) was a weak character in the first few episodes as well.

And for the record, I think it has the potential to be much better than the British version.  I liked it and all, but it was just over the line in terms of that  uncomfortable humor for me.  David Brent was just a little (or a lot) too much.  Ditto with that jerk salesman.  

Supposedly, where Gervias played Brent as kinda sleezy, Steve Carell will be more good natured, but just kind of socially inept.

Oh, plus I like not having to turn on the closed captions so I can understand what some of them are saying.

[Nate]

I never saw the UK show, but I'm liking this so far.

[clemsonfan]

My favorite part was the salesman last night saying that he brought up downsizing in his interview. I think it has great potential as well. The British version only made like 12 or so episodes before it ended. If this takes off, it will be on for years so it won't always mirror the British scripts. That will be interesting.

[Kwyjibo]

I'm with the wife (because she'll beat me if I'm not*) on this one.  I loved, loved, loved the original and I think they took the wrong approach so closely mirroring it.  But that's the only criticism I have.  I think it's going to be great.  Steve Carrell was fantastic at being the annoying boss.  I had a boss once that was very reminicent of David Brent but he's even closer to Carrell's character.

I can't wait to see how it goes once they break away from the stuff from the British show.

[bluebastard]

Steve Carrell was great.  Otherwise, I felt it was a bit boring.  They did well recapturing the uncomfortable humor, as most have put it, but I just felt like the cast lacked a cohesive chemistry.  Of course, it was the first episode and I'll give it a chance to impress me.  Hell, if I can watch most of the first season of Committed, then I can definitely give the American version of The Office a chance.

[Kwyjibo]

I can see what you mean Blue.  But you've got to figure that they were doing a pilot, *and* pretty much rehashing something that had already been done.  I can see why they seem a little less than tight knit.

[scurvygirl]

I don't know what kind of crack y'all are smoking but that show was completely pants!
I am very easily amused, and I didn't even crack a smile throughout the entire episode.  The acting was abysmal.  The comedic timing was all off.  The writing was terrible... it was entirely derivative of the British series, which was to be expected, but still, it was such a rip-off.
I cannot believe the DDN said this was fantastic.  So I figured I might as well tune in and see for myself.  I almost turned off the TV 10 minutes into the show because it was so awful.  But then I kept thinking, "No, it'll get better."
It didn't.  And it won't.
The End.

[Kwyjibo]

Huh?  You must have been watching a different show.  I knew there would be people here that would hate it just because it's not all British and trendy, but having seen the episode I honestly don't understand it.

As we stated early TLB, yeah, it was derivative, but it was just the pilot the remainder of the shows will be mostly original content.  And it was funny... Carrell was just as smarmy and uncomfortably socially inept as Ricky Gervais.

[Juliana]

You didn't even laugh at the Pencil bit?  Are you serious?
That was hairlarious.

[SteelTown Boy]

it's not for us who have access to BBC America,it's for those who have basic cable.

[Kwyjibo]

Well, that's 2 for "it isn't British, so I didn't like it".

I'm out.

[scurvygirl]

Huh? You must have been watching a different show.

I was going to say the exact same thing about you guys.

And it was funny... Carrell was just as smarmy and uncomfortably socially inept as Ricky Gervais.

No, he really, really wasn't.  He was just some guy, saying some words that someone else wrote... and doing a rather shitty job of it, I might add. It was far from entertaining.

I'm not saying I dislike this show because it isn't British.  I'm saying I dislike it because it's terrible.  I do think my opinion of it would be slightly more favorable had I not seen the original, but I still wouldn't tune in again.

And no, Juliana, not even the pencil bit could make me crack a smile.

[Nate]

Elitist TV snobs...

; )

[Marlowe]

I didn't even crack a smile throughout the entire episode.

i have to say, i had a similar reaction to lunar on this one. to me, the acting seemed on the high-school ensemble level, and i thought that the david brent dude was just plain horrible. true, it's not fair comparing him to the original, since gervais was/is a true genius, but i can't help it. i thought that the tim guy was actually the best of the bunch at capturing the role. but still, i was really disappointed.