Movies - The Office

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	Movies - The Office

The Office is the name of two television comedy shows created by Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant. The first was the UK version, which was initially broadcast on BBC Two on 9 July 2001 and ran for two seasons and a pair of Christmas specials. Gervais and Merchant were then commissioned by NBC to create an American version, which premiered on 24 March 2005.

A French adaptation of the series, retitled Le Bureau
, is due to air in Spring 2006 on Canal+.. The German series Stromberg also used The Office as a basis, but is not considered an official remake.

Comparison of two versions

All of the core elements of the UK series were brought over to the U.S. version. Both are structured as mockumentaries, without laugh tracks. Both are set in the offices of a paper supply company, with a boss whose high opinion of his own managerial skills (and his sense of humor) are not shared by his employees. Both feature an irritating "assistant to the regional manager" and two characters, an in-house sales representative and a receptionist, who are good friends with an apparent chemistry between them that gives the viewers the impression that their relationship could go beyond friendship if it were not for the fact that the receptionist is already engaged.

The UK version is set in the town of Slough, England. The fictional paper company in the show is called Wernham-Hogg. The U.S. version is set in the city of Scranton, Pennsylvania, focusing on a paper company called Dunder Mifflin.

A January 2006 Los Angeles Times article commented briefly on some of the changes that the producers of the U.S. version have introduced as the show has developed. NBC's entertainment president Kevin Reilly, whose support kept it on the air during a period of dismal initial ratings, characterized the differences in the characters this way: "I think Americans need a little bit more hope than the British." Reilly was talking about differences such as having the boss be a bit more competent, and having plots that are slightly more upbeat, with humor less cruel.

Character counterparts

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Movies - The Office

Comparison of two versions

Character counterparts

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