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Post by thug on Jan 6, 2006 23:23:05 GMT
I recently got into this show (the British version) and found it utterly hilarious. At the same time, it surprisingly and effectively weaves drama into its plots and I ended up caring for all the characters, even and especially David Brent, the racist and sexist boss who wants no more than to be everybody's friend, a person who we all know in real life. The second best show I've ever seen, behind only Seinfeld. SPOILERS My favorite episode has to be the 5th of Season 2, in which it is comic relief day, and instead of working Brent is busy taking part in pants-ing other employees ("Please don't do this. My wife and kids are watching this.") and dancing ("This is a fusion of Flashdance and MC Hammer shit.") instead of working and is ultimately fired.
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RNL
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Post by RNL on Jan 7, 2006 2:46:57 GMT
I agree that this is one of the best TV shows ever.
My favourite episode is one where they go to the nightclub, where Brent reads, and critiques, the poem about Slough at the end.
The American version (and I say this having only seen the pilot) doesn't cast a shadow.
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Capo
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Post by Capo on Jan 7, 2006 22:15:04 GMT
I'm pleased to hear you two are fans. I absolutely love it. I own season one and the Christmas specials (which were both fantastic), and have been meaning to buy season two for ages.
That, by the end of the show, we're on Brent's side, pays testament to Gervais' odd, down-to-earth humour. Essentially, a loveable arsehole.
I was watching Gervais' live "Politics" show the other night. Highly recommended. I thought it was hilarious, and well worth buying.
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Capo
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Post by Capo on Jan 8, 2006 22:32:35 GMT
Oh, by the way, there was a documentary on the other night in which Gervais met and interviewed his idol. And who might that be? None other than Curb Your Enthusiasm (and Seinfeld co-creator) Larry David, who you're both fans of, I believe.
I've never watched an episode of Seinfeld (the opportunity has never came by), but I've caught some episodes of season four, which I loved.
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Post by thug on Jan 9, 2006 0:25:17 GMT
As I mentioned on Gangster BB, my friends and I are currently developing an internet sitcom, and both Gervais and David are humongous influences of mine (along with the great, extremely self-referentional show Arrested Development). TV, for whatever reason, is extremely rarely considered an artform, an argument I highly disagree with. It's a completely different medium than cinema and is often overshadowed by the movies. An episode of a TV show is not a short film but a segment of a larger whole. The difference between TV and movies is akin to the difference between poetry and novels. The style is completely different but being able to do one can help one do the other. Through this show, I hope to become a better filmmaker.
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Post by Vercetti on Jan 9, 2006 3:09:35 GMT
Curb Your Enthusiasm and The Office are two shows I've wanted to see for a long time now, along with The Shield.
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Capo
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Post by Capo on Jan 9, 2006 20:13:13 GMT
Thug, while I agree that doing TV can really help with a filmmaker, and even encourage it in a way, I have no real interest, or enthusiasm, in exploring a medium which is even more demographic-driven than Film, with which I seem to be struggling of late. Or perhaps, in having to pre-define most of your TV work by its audience even more than with Film, I am too lazy, or unsuited, to the medium.
I mean, how many self-indulgent pieces of art do you actually know on TV? It's a format controlled, and ultimately restricted, by obsessions with profit and trash-eating audiences. Especially in the UK, anyway; I can't say the same for American TV.
While it does offer brilliance here and there, it really is a rare thing to see someone like Gervais come along. Otherwise, I never watch television.
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Post by thug on Jan 9, 2006 20:19:30 GMT
It just makes the gems even more special, as there are many terrible shows on TV (and sometimes they last for many seasons, like Friends).
You should really see an episode of Arrested Development. It constantly makes references to itself and earlier episodes. In fact, as it is on the brink of cancellation, the last episode was all about that (with the narrator saying, "Please tell your friends to watch this show."). Great stuff.
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Capo
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Post by Capo on Jan 9, 2006 20:42:00 GMT
Actually, I love Friends.
As trashy as Big Brother, that strangely addictive "real-life" con, is, last night had a clever nod to post-modernism.
It is, of course, Celebrity Big Brother, with Dennis Rodman in (don't know if you'd know any other of the names in there). But this year the creators have put in a "non-celebrity", though now she is anything but. And last night--for up until now she's been telling them all a lie--she was exposed as a non-celebrity. The "celebrities" all accepted her, initially, but it would be interesting to see how they treat her now...
A brief, momentary "lapse" into intertextuality from a show only of vague, passive interest.
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Pherdy
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Post by Pherdy on Jan 11, 2006 16:01:53 GMT
every now and then more original insights are considered for spicing up the Big Brother formula, such as putting identical twins in the house who change positions without the others knowing. and recently, "our" Dutch 5th version (after a 3 year absence), had a pregnant women, who delivered a healthy child a few weeks before the finale, the world's first child born on national tv - which was broadcasted with remarkable decency, by the way.
back on topic, The Office is probably my favorite tv-comedy ever, but in all fairness I must admit that the one episode of American Office I saw, with Steve Carell, was quite good. it wasn't an exact copy of any of the British episodes, but still managed to get across the principal character (the David Brent type) by means of Carrell pretty well, and within this one episode I already felt some of the sympathies I had developed earlier with Ricky Gervais' version.
that said, the BBC edition is still out of reach. I have only seen glimpses of Gervais' and Merchant's "Extras". it looked pretty good, though not as remarkable as Office.
while episode #4 of season 1 is often called the best, I must agree with thug on that the later episodes of season 2 are my favorites, up until the dramatic final episode (not counting the equally interesting Christmas Specials)
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Capo
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Post by Capo on Jan 11, 2006 19:02:54 GMT
I too have only caught Extras fleetingly, and was intrigued. I planned on buying the boxset, actually, but haven't got round to doing so, yet.
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Pherdy
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Post by Pherdy on Jul 12, 2007 13:25:19 GMT
recently, The Office "US" has been aired in The Netherlands. a major fan of the original British series, I decided to give "US" a proper try.
I like it, and try to watch it every time, but even so it does not come close to the original. in my opinion, it doesn't try to be, so as long as you can accept that and see through it, the show is okay.
the original was brilliant because it played the mockumentary card all the way (or at least as far as 90%). the US version is more a regular sitcom, yet shot with handheld, with your occasional interview and scarce glanses at the camera. what bugs me is that the two biggest characters in the US version are extremely annoying and insane, instead of the much more acceptable "zanyness" of their British counterparts. Michael Scott and Dwight Schrute are ridiculously outrageous characters, whereas in the original you couldn't help but sympathise with the two silly personalities.
however, as a regular sitcom, it does play out it's (longer) story arcs, whereas the original (rightfully) quit after 14 episodes - the two hour long Christmas specials included. with much more characters and all new plotlines, there is enough room for The Office US to go on as a stand-alone comedy, as long as you do not compare it too often with the British show.
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Capo
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Post by Capo on Aug 6, 2009 14:01:19 GMT
"And I don't agree with that in the workplace."
My favourite episode might be Tim's 30th birthday, with the annual quiz.
"That wasn't the real quiz! That wasn't the real quiz!"
The way an excited, cliquey Gareth kicks Tim's blow-up cock at the very end and runs out of frame. Genius.
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Capo
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Post by Capo on Aug 6, 2009 14:03:10 GMT
The very opening scene to season 2. "Manem manem, ugh-egh, igh-ugh-egh..." LMFAO!!!!
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