Friday, December 29, 2006
Best Television of 2006 - Part 3
The Office
Now, no one liked the British version more than me - for a time I worked the opinion that it was underrated. I haven't seen it recently, but I'm guessing it still stands up. I hated the American version at first - it was like a school play using British scripts. But it really came into its own. What makes it great are the deviations from the model: it's still tender, and moving, and pleasantly bleak, but there's a little less realism, and it's funny, sometimes the original forgot to do that. It's also much more of an ensemble piece - like Manchester United with goals, the funnies come from throughout the team: Creed! Angela! Stanley! Toby!
And fuck you, Gervais, with your 12 episodes and a Christmas special cop-out. These guys have done 40 so far. 40! And it's better than ever.
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The Office
Now, no one liked the British version more than me - for a time I worked the opinion that it was underrated. I haven't seen it recently, but I'm guessing it still stands up. I hated the American version at first - it was like a school play using British scripts. But it really came into its own. What makes it great are the deviations from the model: it's still tender, and moving, and pleasantly bleak, but there's a little less realism, and it's funny, sometimes the original forgot to do that. It's also much more of an ensemble piece - like Manchester United with goals, the funnies come from throughout the team: Creed! Angela! Stanley! Toby!
And fuck you, Gervais, with your 12 episodes and a Christmas special cop-out. These guys have done 40 so far. 40! And it's better than ever.
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