I'm shoked

[seal!]

I just saw an internet advert for a show called "the office" and it looks exactly like the office that we had over here, why have they done this! it shouldn't be aloud!!

[Skids]

The idea was bought from the BBC by an American network so that they can re-make it. Although, the original BBC version has a cult following in the States.

[nicola_red]

I assume you're talking about the US version which is called The Office: An American Workplace.  They've been allowed to do it cos Ricky Gervais, who created, wrote and starred in the original BBC show, said they could!  And I'm sure he got paid handsomely for the privilege.

[SteveH75]

Apparently our friends from over the pond would either a) fail to understand the subtle humour or b) turn off at the sight of the program so it was made �American-friendly� � I�m no longer surprised by the closed attitude shown over in America anyhow �

[rja211077]

you may find these articles interesting:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/tv_and_radio/4327413.stm

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/tv_and_radio/4375947.stm

[Englishbird]

Ricky was interviewed about it the other day on richard and judy and said he thought they were really good - not that he can slate them really.

[littleoldme]

I always cringe when I hear that the Americans are doing a remake of a UK show, rather than just importing the original. The trouble is that American TV executives wrongly think that their audiences are stupid and don't credit them with the ability to 'get' British humour, as SteveH75 points out. I think that if a US audience watched a British show knowing it to be a British show, they would be perfectly capable of adapting to British humour, just as we can adapt to American humour when watching one of their comedies.

Sadly, the TV execs think they need to wet-nurse their audience, so they end up with this curious hybrid of Americanised British humour which, surprise surprise, tends to crash and burn. This usually shows that it is the men in suits who don't 'get' British humour, rather than the audiences.

The worst example for me came when I heard they were re-making One Foot In The Grave - the cantakerous old curmudgeon so wonderfully played over here by Richard Wilson being played over there by - I kid you not - everyone's favourite uncle, "cuddly" old Bill Cosby. Talk about missing the point!