British version or American? TV discussion

[assydingo]

I was just watching the British Office. I can't get into it at all. In the American the expressions could tell whole the story and in the British the actors look emotionless o.o.

That being said, the American version should have ended after season 2 or at least 3 (imo).

Opinions on the original British versus American remakes?

[ptb2010]

Originally Posted by assydingo

I was just watching the British Office. I can't get into it at all. In the American the expressions could tell whole the story and in the British the actors look emotionless o.o.

That being said, the American version should have ended after season 2 or at least 3 (imo).

Opinions on the original British versus American remakes?

Mugging like crazy is an American style of comedy "acting" most Brits find incredibly annoying and far from funny.
But then Americans think Adam Sandler a great comedian. No accounting for taste.

[kevin87]

Originally Posted by ptb2010

Mugging like crazy is an American style of comedy "acting" most Brits find incredibly annoying and far from funny.
But then Americans think Adam Sandler a great comedian. No accounting for taste.

Such a wide generalization lol I personally don't like Adam Sandler.

The UK version is the more dry humor that is more popular there and the US doesn't have that. I thought the US was better, but that doesn't mean I didn't like the UK version. I'm glad the US version wasn't just an exact copy like Coupling was. The UK version is great, but the US version tried to use the same exact dialogue and it just doesn't work.

[Jay H.]

For me, it's a toss-up. I prefer the American version of The Office, but the British Life on Mars is much better than the American remake.

By the way, did anybody watch the brilliant series Episodes? It was a comedy about a British husband/wife writing team who go to L.A. to adapt their hit show for American TV. What starts as a show about a middle-aged headmaster of a boys' school becomes a show about a hockey coach. Played by Matt LeBlanc.

[UltraMario9]

I always found the US Office to be way too garish and cheesy for my tastes, which goes for anything Michael Schur is involved with. Not to mention it went on for way too long.

Originally Posted by ptb2010

Mugging like crazy is an American style of comedy "acting" most Brits find incredibly annoying and far from funny.
But then Americans think Adam Sandler a great comedian. No accounting for taste.

I'm British and I think Sandler is not only a great comedian but also a great dramatic actor (who doesn't mind doing a string of bad movies in-between the good ones)

[Steedeel]

Originally Posted by assydingo

I was just watching the British Office. I can't get into it at all. In the American the expressions could tell whole the story and in the British the actors look emotionless o.o.

That being said, the American version should have ended after season 2 or at least 3 (imo).

Opinions on the original British versus American remakes?

No comparison for me. The Uk Office was far superior.

[Steedeel]

Originally Posted by Freddie_Quell

Eleven years after, he finally got a reply. The OP must feel like Chuck Noland.

Some people needed time to think about it! What’s wrong with that?

[ptb2010]

Originally Posted by kevin87

Such a wide generalization lol I personally don't like Adam Sandler.

The UK version is the more dry humor that is more popular there and the US doesn't have that. I thought the US was better, but that doesn't mean I didn't like the UK version. I'm glad the US version wasn't just an exact copy like Coupling was. The UK version is great, but the US version tried to use the same exact dialogue and it just doesn't work.

It's a bit like irony on the internet, often hard to get across.
Then we must remember Churchill's comment that Britain and the US are two nations divided by the same language

[ptb2010]

Originally Posted by Jay H.

For me, it's a toss-up. I prefer the American version of The Office, but the British Life on Mars is much better than the American remake.

By the way, did anybody watch the brilliant series Episodes? It was a comedy about a British husband/wife writing team who go to L.A. to adapt their hit show for American TV. What starts as a show about a middle-aged headmaster of a boys' school becomes a show about a hockey coach. Played by Matt LeBlanc.

Episodes? Yes, brilliant. Subtle yet funny with LeBlanc sending up his persona beautifully.
Also bang on the nail about how Hollywood can take a great idea and completely screw it up.
Just look at some of the remakes.
Brilliant Argentinian thriller The Secret In Their Eyes was changed so much in Hollywood remake for no reason, male lead became female for example, it just made people ask what could have been so good about the original?

[CouncilSpectre]

British sitcoms, with the odd exception, have that uncanny knack of not overstaying their welcome. The Office UK is a good example of that, at 12 episodes and 3 specials.

The US version, whilst pretty good in itself, went on far too long.

Still, was a better effort than the US remake of The Inbetweeners......

[EvaDK]

British comedy series all the way:
Yes, Minister, The Young Ones, The Office, Absolutely Fabulous, Blackadder, Black Books, Fawlty Towers, Spaced. The list is very long.

A lot of the British sense of humor is rooted in class differences, the rigid structures of British society, endless bureaucracy, the mentality of 'stay calm and carry on' and present day Brits existing as survivors in the ruins of a dead empire.

American sitcoms mostly seem to be motivated by other drivers. My personal favorites are probably rooted in the 1980s and 90s, the likes of MASH, Cheers, Married With Children and Seinfeld.

I think especially the quality of the writing has been going downhill ever since, hence more recent US sitcoms don't really appeal to me. It's also quite hard to find the gems, when there exists such a vast output of sub-par products. It feels as if a lot of these series, are purely made to be the filler in between commercial breaks and not the other way around.

[Petey Parker]

Originally Posted by CouncilSpectre

Still, was a better effort than the US remake of The Inbetweeners......

Never speak of that abomination again.

[Phillip c. Niethe]

I prefer the British versions of Broadchurch 1&2, the U.S. office ran longer and had more character development but the specific episodes which were shared between both versions, the preference and type of humor fall to BBC I also prefer the country of origin for Who's line is it anyway as well as remakes in general as it deals with international reinterpretations

[Lee A Stewart]

Liked the US version of Being Human over the Brit version. Just couldn't identify with he actors.