Does The Office (US) Ever Get Funny?

[K]

So I just watched pilot of The Office (US), and wondered if it ever got funny/original? I don't know if it was just unfunny because it was identical to the British one, which I'd already seen, or if it was just bad.

I remember liking the original, but I didn't laugh once at the US. I mean, I'm not some British Comedy Purist or anything, but I really can't be arsed watching a recreation when I have the real one sitting on my shelf.

How long does it take to get original?

[METALMAN]

It gets quite funny after like 4 seasons or something, by which point it's probably better than the original. But still not very original at any time throughout.

[Guest C-MPH]

The first season's pretty excruciating if you've already seen the UK version. After that it heads in a different direction and IMO gets funny - not in the same way as the UK one though.

[therockbox]

The first six episodes are, by and large, awful.

Series 2 onwards is very good though, although completely different to the UK one.

[K]

2nd episode is rubbish too. I'm just gonna leave it on in the background until season 2 starts.

[Numbahs]

Season Two is it's best one. I'd stop watching after that, especially if you don't consider that one funny...

I like the basketball episode in the first season.

Edited January 4, 2010 by Numbahs

[Blue Rosler]

I really love the Office US, and I find the later series a lot better than the UK one.

[OGpistolpete]

The US version is way better than the shitty British one.

just sayin.

[K]

Three episodes in and the US version isn't even close. I actually laughed for the first time halfway during this episode though. The phoney medical diseases make me laugh.

[Lord Nibbler]

There's not much point in watching the first season if you've seen the original.

[Mofoticon]

Season 2 of the US Office is one of the best seasons of tv comedy i've ever seen...season 1 is just awful and it almost got cancelled because of that, but luckily it didn't.

[thunderfromdownunder]

steve carrel def makes the office as funny as it is , along with dwight who i think is a awsome character. never seen the uk version of it though. is there a dwight sort of character in the uk version aswell ?

Edited January 5, 2010 by thunderfromdownunder

[LUKIE]

By Dwayne you really mean Dwight?

[GoGo Yubari]

First season has its moments (I love the basketball episode), but it's really the second season where it finds its legs. The first episode is awwwful.

[thunderfromdownunder]

ah yes dwight , sorry my bad

[Guest C-MPH]

Dwight's UK comparable is Gareth, who I find to be a much better character (only instance of me preferring a UK character by far).

[Numbahs]

Gareth is better because you can actually pity him in some way, much like Brent.

Dwight is just an ultra-fictional "everynerd"...which works for broad US sitcoms.

[K]

Gareth is awesome.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/comedy/theoffice/gareth/

[apsham]

Dwight is awesome, purely because of how his character builds throughout all of the seasons of The Office. When you actually get to SEE his homelife, it gets friggin' amazing.

[Panni]

I consider Season 2 of the Office to be one of the funniest seasons of television I've ever seen. I used to enjoy Jim Halpert a lot, but over the seasons Dwight has become my favorite character. Every time Dwight brings up Schrute family traditions I crack up (getting married in their own graves, not being allowed to watch television, knowing the dangers of a male turkey during mating season).