The Office (UK): The Complete Collection (2001) (Digital SD TV Show) $9.99 via VUDU/Fandango at Home

spookymulder

Apr 11, 2024 1:44 PM

630 Comments

Joined Nov 2011

spookymulderApr 11, 2024 1:44 PM

630 Comments

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Quote from duckeggs

:

UK office isn't good. but then again, most UK media isn't good lol

hah i feel the opposite. the US version pales in comparison to the original UK office. like it's not even close. but to each their own.

i have the discs but prob won't be able to resist getting the digital here, esp if apple matches.

7

1

MogwaiWaterPark

Apr 11, 2024 11:56 PM

674 Comments

Joined Sep 2014

MogwaiWaterParkApr 11, 2024 11:56 PM

674 Comments

Quote from fosaisu

:

US Office got better in S2 when they recognized that Steve Carrell is hilarious when you give him a little room and aren't just him to do a Ricky Gervais impression, and that the deep cringe that the UK Office created and perfected in two brief, self-contained series would not be sustainable over 200 episodes in a US sitcom.

The exact same thing happened when Amy Pohler switched up how she played Leslie Knope from season 1 to season 2 of Parks. Made a world of difference.

3

1

annewaldron

Apr 12, 2024 10:11 AM

107 Comments

Joined Nov 2017

annewaldronApr 12, 2024 10:11 AM

107 Comments

My heart will always be in Slough.

2

1

pink123

Apr 12, 2024 6:48 PM

241 Comments

Joined Aug 2006

pink123Apr 12, 2024 6:48 PM

241 Comments

Quote from el_cuco

:

Your minds gonna be blown when you find out there's a Saudi Version of this show as well! Found that out last week lol

There is a polish version too:-)

1

fosaisu

Apr 12, 2024 7:01 PM

385 Comments

Joined Feb 2018

fosaisuApr 12, 2024 7:01 PM

385 Comments

Quote from 1-6

:

If staplers in jello doesn't make you laugh, you should pass.

It's only a trifling matter.

1

AmusedPenguin6017

Apr 12, 2024 7:50 PM

20 Comments

Joined Dec 2018

AmusedPenguin6017Apr 12, 2024 7:50 PM

20 Comments

Question for anyone who bought this: Is it unedited? Hulu has this, but they beep out the occasional swear word.

Also, there was a dvd version from a few years back that had the creators talking over the end credits, which was jarring.

Just making sure these are unedited (so to speak).

EagerRock448

Apr 12, 2024 8:14 PM

268 Comments

Joined Aug 2023

EagerRock448Apr 12, 2024 8:14 PM

268 Comments

Quote from BaaliBandapirrla

:

This. They need to come out of colonial mindset to make wholesome comedy.

Huh? What does that even mean? They should spend more time being funny and less on finding out who the brown guy gets to play.

1

BaaliBandapirrla

Apr 13, 2024 1:55 AM

1.3K Comments

Joined Nov 2020

BaaliBandapirrlaApr 13, 2024 1:55 AM

1.3K Comments

Quote from EagerRock448

:

Huh? What does that even mean? They should spend more time being funny and less on finding out who the brown guy gets to play.

Yes. You are correct

Last edited by BaaliBandapirrla April 12, 2024 at 07:01 PM.

1

ericargyle

Apr 14, 2024 4:12 AM

87 Comments

Joined Nov 2014

ericargyleApr 14, 2024 4:12 AM

87 Comments

Greatest ever made. The 12 episodes and special are peak, perfect television. Nothing unnecessary and nothing wasted. Every look from Tim, music placement in key scenes, Keith eating a scotch egg. Utterly brilliant.

2

MellowSwimmer

Apr 14, 2024 11:57 PM

21 Comments

Joined Jun 2019

MellowSwimmerApr 14, 2024 11:57 PM

21 Comments

I really do not like to get into the whole "this is better than that" conversation but it is very easy to explain why the UK version is far superior to the US version. Ricky Gervais portrays a character that could actually be a real person, that is actually employed by a company, and put into a position of power. Steve Carrell (as usual) plays an idiot that would not only never be put in a position of management, but would probably never find a job. US comedy is so often based on situations that would never really happen, with characters that do things that no real person would ever do, which to me makes them inherently not funny. Will Ferrell, Adam Sandler, and Steve Carrell have all made careers out of this type of comedy. This is one of the reasons that Seinfeld (an exception to the UK > US argument) was so funny, there were many ridiculously outlandish situations, but most of them were based on things that really happened to Larry David. Which is also what makes the UK Office so good, David Brent was based on people Ricky Gervais actually worked for and or with.

3

mysmile4u

Apr 15, 2024 6:41 PM

428 Comments

Joined Apr 2008

mysmile4uApr 15, 2024 6:41 PM

428 Comments

Quote from desidude2000

:

Didn't even know there was such a thing as the UK version of The Office.

So many shows start out in the UK. You would be surprised. Usually they are much better. I just started watching the UK version of Ghosts. I don't think it is that good but as usual, I was surprised to find out yes, the show started there.

ericargyle

Apr 15, 2024 7:28 PM

87 Comments

Joined Nov 2014

ericargyleApr 15, 2024 7:28 PM

87 Comments

Quote from consumeralert

:

Dang, I'm getting old. I watched this 20 years ago. And did so by checking it out of the public library!

Had to use the included UK cheat sheet card to keep track of all the language differences and nuanced landmarks that the US watcher might need to know to understand conversations.

If the UK version had more seasons, it would have been a blast. I didn't get into the US version as much because of the nearly identical episodes. After those episodes, I enjoyed it from time to time. They both had good things; the US version got somethings more flushed out by having more seasons.

The US version polished the appeal of the setting by working off of the dingy low budget feel of the UK setting; mainly the dim lighting. US broadcasting standards are different than the UK. The UK version was able to go a little edgier in their dialogue at times. Comedy wise, I liked the dry humor, as that's my style too and lived the cubical life & small business niche to appreciate it as well in my 20's.

There's at least a few actors you would have seen in other movies in the show. I remember seeing one of the pirates from Pirates of the Caribbean; the one with the glass eye plays Jim's character I believe.

It's definitely worth watching if you've not seen it. If you get to know the background of Gervais and the journey to success that has come from this for him and a couple of his good friends; it's kind of remarkable.

Karl Pilkington and the Idiot Abroad series was an eye water good time that I wouldn't have looked for if not for the UK office show and other various things they've done.

Yes! I learned about this show in 2002 by reading about the dvd release in EGM magazine. I proceeded to pick it up, watch it over and over again. Started waking up at 7am to catch the Ricky gervais show on XFM live every week. I emailed and frequently had back and forth convos with Karl while he worked at xfm as the producer at the time (still have those emails saved). In 2005 I took my first trip to the UK and have now gone about a dozen times in my life. Tims ability to ask out Dawn despite his nerves pushed me to ask out a girl in our friend group and we've been married now for 16 years. That show literally changed the track of my life.

1

travisamc

Apr 16, 2024 8:01 PM

266 Comments

Joined Jun 2011

travisamcApr 16, 2024 8:01 PM

266 Comments

Quote from MellowSwimmer

:

I really do not like to get into the whole "this is better than that" conversation but it is very easy to explain why the UK version is far superior to the US version. Ricky Gervais portrays a character that could actually be a real person, that is actually employed by a company, and put into a position of power. Steve Carrell (as usual) plays an idiot that would not only never be put in a position of management, but would probably never find a job. US comedy is so often based on situations that would never really happen, with characters that do things that no real person would ever do, which to me makes them inherently not funny. Will Ferrell, Adam Sandler, and Steve Carrell have all made careers out of this type of comedy. This is one of the reasons that Seinfeld (an exception to the UK > US argument) was so funny, there were many ridiculously outlandish situations, but most of them were based on things that really happened to Larry David. Which is also what makes the UK Office so good, David Brent was based on people Ricky Gervais actually worked for and or with.

I agree that certain situations are extreme and unrealistic for an office environment.
However, there are a lot of moments throughout the series that show Micheal's competence:

- Lackawanna School District contract
- Hammermill paper
- Michael Scott paper negotiations
- Whatever the big sale was on pretzel day.
- Countless times he proved that the office was a family and he truly cared about everyone…except Toby. (Pam's art show, Andy's Play, The Dundies, Realizes that Erin sees him as a father figure, Loves Jan's baby that isn't his, Always defends Ryan, just to name a few.)

These are things that David Brent didn't do which could be why people don't like the US version as much, I don't know.

Besides the US version season 1, they are different comedy styles and delivery. I enjoyed them both but prefer the US version since you get to know more about each character in the 7 extra seasons.

JudeC11

Apr 17, 2024 12:05 AM

539 Comments

Joined May 2019

JudeC11Apr 17, 2024 12:05 AM

539 Comments

Coming up as 18.99 for me...

The Office (UK): The Complete Collection (2001) (Digital SD TV Show) $9.99 via VUDU/Fandango at Home

$9.99

$28

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