UK & US "The Office"

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-22533526

and Stephen Fry on much the same subject:

Stephen Fry on American vs British Comedy

You know, I've had this discussion with people about The Office and it is interesting to hear people's takes on it. I liked the US one alright, but I only ever watched the first 2 seasons. I had seen the UK one well before the US one came out and I'd always loved it, so I think that's what put me off a bit. It's the same format but completely different. Many people in the US just don't seem to connect with the UK one.

Some think it's kind of painful to watch rather than funny. It's that British love of an almost brutal awkwardness vs the American love of whacky/zany/over-the-top.

David Brent is a bit ridiculous and unfortunate. Gareth Keenan is a bit ridiculous and unfortunate. Michael Scott is just blatantly ridiculous. Dwight Shrute is just bizarre.

I don't even know what I'm trying to get at here, but I do think that it is a pretty fascinating look at the differences between US and UK comedy.

ETA: I always have to say that I just love Stephen Fry so much. He's wonderful.

There are about 20 different versions now.  No ever discusses the Indian or German version.

I like both the US and the UK version.

There are about 20 different versions now.  No ever discusses the Indian or German version.

I don't really know the context of Fry's question and answer appearance. I do know that Fry has done an "on the road" type thing over in the States and has worked in Hollywood. Maybe he's done the same thing in India....I don't know. In that case perhaps he should have said, "Well the Office is on in India, Germany and China and we should broaden the topic".

The BBC article.....well it has the feel of a typical dashed-off website/bloggy sort of thing.

You know the whole thing piqued my interest on a number of levels - but perhaps the key question is why a British guy cooks up this very successful concept (some say he swiped the the whole thing - think Spike Jones, Spinal Tap, the Rutles) and is judged pretty harshly for it (at least by some). Sort of in the vein of Phil Collins or the guy from Coldplay. Ricky Gervais is probably the most financially successful entertainer of the last decade (maybe Cowell). On the other hand, I never really hear bad comments about say Hugh Laurie or Craig Ferguson, nor has Adele's success stateside dampened her profile here.

I am a leftie so it doesn't mean a whole heck of a lot to me - but it is of interest.

I think Ricky Gervais is funny, but I also think it's easy to see him thinking he's funny, which also turns me off of him a little. 

For example, he seems to find the topic of his friend Karl Pilkington and how dumb he is exceptionally funny, which to me seems like the sort of thing that's probably much funnier if you're friends with Karl Pilkington and hang around him a lot, but is kind of "meh" for me looking at it from an outside perspective.

But "The Office" made a ton of money, so I'm sure that's why when Gervais told Sky he wanted to do a show about Pilkington travelling the world and being stupid, Sky said "Yes, please," even though it's kind of a nothing show which would never have been made if Gervais had nothing to do with it.

Hah! I was in the audience for that Peter Florence talk with Stephen Fry!