The Office (UK)

While watching "Pilot" episode of The Office, I thought it was very similar to the American version. I have seen every episode of the American version, but haven't watched the British one before. I think the American producers did a pretty good job adapting and casting the pilot to make the characters, setting, and premise seem similar. It would be interesting to see how much all the other versions throughout the world relate to the original as well.

There were similar jokes such as putting staplers into jell-o and David fake firing Dawn for stealing post-it notes. There is a lot of unprofessional behavior coming from the employees, but mostly it is Brent that reminds us a "real bosses." David seeks validation from his co-workers, looking to be friends instead of a boss.

I noticed that David Brent comes up with funny nicknames for himself, like "Brent Master General" and makes up puns for other people's names like Michael Scott does. I find both Ricky Gervais and Steve Carell both hysterical and they both make both their characters outrageous and goofy. Sometimes they make me cringe, but other times I find them loveable.

Like Are You Being Served? and Fawlty Towers, The Office also has humor based on awkward situations and workplace behavior. They all feature bosses with narcissistic personalities who try either to befriend or annoy their coworkers. This episode dealt with themes such as middle class, identity, and gender roles in the office with a woman as a receptionist and as a corporate boss.

There were references to downsizing, Ali G, calling people "mental," the singing fish on the wall and the "wassup?" and the show being set up like a mockumentary reality show are pop culture references to the 2000's. The only British reference I really picked up on was the characters calling jell-o, "jelly."