"The Office" (2005) TV series 2005-????

User Rating:

9.4/10   

Creators:

Greg Daniels
Ricky Gervais
Stephen Merchant

Seasons:

1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6

Release Date:

24 March 2005 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Drama | Romance

Tagline:

America's stuck in (crossed out) on the office.

Plot:

A mockumentary on a group of typical office workers, where the workday consists of ego clashes, inappropriate behavior, and tedium. Based on the hit BBC series.

Plot Keywords:

Office | Mockumentary | Pennsylvania | Workplace | Satire

Awards:

Won Golden Globe. Another 21 wins & 70 nominations

US TV Schedule:

Sun. Nov. 8	11:00 PM	Fox	Fire	#2.4
Mon. Nov. 9	6:30 PM	TBS	Traveling Salesmen	#3.12

Cast

Steve Carell	...	Michael Scott (100 episodes, 2005-2009)
Rainn Wilson	...	Dwight Schrute / ... (100 episodes, 2005-2009)
John Krasinski	...	Jim Halpert / ... (100 episodes, 2005-2009)
Jenna Fischer	...	Pam Beesly (100 episodes, 2005-2009)
B.J. Novak	...	Ryan Howard / ... (100 episodes, 2005-2009)
Leslie David Baker	...	Stanley Hudson / ... (100 episodes, 2005-2009)
Brian Baumgartner	...	Kevin Malone (100 episodes, 2005-2009)
Angela Kinsey	...	Angela Martin / ... (100 episodes, 2005-2009)
Phyllis Smith	...	Phyllis Lapin / ... (100 episodes, 2005-2009)
Kate Flannery	...	Meredith Palmer (99 episodes, 2005-2009)
Mindy Kaling	...	Kelly Kapoor (94 episodes, 2005-2009)
Creed Bratton	...	Creed Bratton / ... (92 episodes, 2005-2009)
Paul Lieberstein	...	Toby Flenderson (88 episodes, 2005-2009)
Oscar Nuñez	...	Oscar Martinez (88 episodes, 2005-2009)
Ed Helms	...	Andy Bernard (65 episodes, 2006-2009)

Also Known As:

The Office: An American Workplace (USA) (working title)
The Office: US Version (Australia)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.78 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

Singapore:NC-16 | Australia:M (some episodes) | Australia:PG (some episodes) | Australia:G (one episode) | Finland:K-18 (self applied) (DVD) (2006) | Singapore:M18 (season 3) | USA:TV-14 (some episodes) | USA:TV-PG (Some episodes) | New Zealand:M (season 3) | New Zealand:M (seasons 1-3)

Filming Locations:

Chandler Valley Center Studios - 13927 Saticoy Street, Van Nuys, Los Angeles, California, USA

Company:

Reveille Productions

Trivia:

Michael has a Union Jack Flag on his desk that appears in various shots as a homage to the original British series.

Quotes:

Michael Scott: That is a perfectly good mini Christmas tree. We are going to sell that to charity because that is what Christmas is all about.

Movie Connections:

Featured in "Comedy Connections: The Office (#5.6)" (2007)

Soundtrack:

Stars

Surpasses the brilliant original.

After reading all of the horrible reviews coming from the UK, I felt the strong desire to comment. I learned that most of the reviewers bashing it have only seen a few (at most) episodes from the first season - many haven't seen it at all, and are simply bashing it because of an overwhelming sense of pride in the original. I'd be surprised if this review isn't skimmed over and marked unhelpful by them. Obviously I'm not speaking to all the British, but the majority that unfairly judge this show with little to no basis in the truth.

This whole fanaticism is juvenile and petty. The casts of the US and UK versions love each show. Ricky Gervais even wrote and executive produced a few episodes of the US version. Open your minds, people! Most of the US fans KNOW that it's based on a British version. It has gotten the credit it deserves for being a brilliant and hilarious show.

But the American version is also brilliant and hilarious. I've read comments ranging from 'bad acting' to 'direct copy', neither of which are true. The first season may have had its borrowed bits, but that was to get it on its feet. The second and third seasons have proved that it is a show entirely on its own, with scenarios and characters having NOTHING to do with the UK version at all. The acting is just as convincing and real as the UK version.

I've even read that Michael Scott is devoid of David Brent's humanity! In actuality, Michael Scott is shown as far more human than David Brent, who was more manipulative (albeit, poorly) and heartless. The US version still has the cruel elements of the UK version, but it balances these awkward, painful moments with tender, human moments, which makes it more enjoyable and watchable.

As for the humor, each show has its own moments of subtlety, detail, absolutely outrageous moments, awkwardness, pain, cuteness, ridiculousness, and vulgarity. The UK version was groundbreaking. But instead of blindly basing your opinions on bias and arrogance, see the US version for what it is - a brilliant, brighter version that, in its first season, simply used the framework of the original (the characters and basic situations) to get started with.

This is the funniest, smartest American television show in recent history besides Arrested Development. Not since Seinfeld has a show made me laugh so hard and smile so much. These three shows get better with each viewing and are great because there's so many levels of humor, from the apparent outrageousness to the minute details that are noticed after repeated viewings and are often funnier than the surface material.