The Office

[Nystul]

I'm curious how much of that comes from "well this came first, so it has to be better" line of thinking though. I think they are both great shows, but a lot of people in the US saw the US version first without ever knowing about the British one. I personally think Carrell is hilarious in everything he touches, so I'm a little biased in that respect.

heh, I actually am reading a book that talks about this stuff, how you create an "anchor" (the book is about how we make decisions, but it's rooted in economics so his examples are typically prices for stuff) and how everything after that is judged against this "anchor"- like how people from a low cost of living city who move to a high cost of living city will typically live "worse" because they can't bring themselves to spend more.

Absolutely there is a first seen/inadequate follower effect. Think of like...GTA3 and GTA: San Andreas. Despite the fact that GTA:SA had a bigger map, more stuff to do, better visuals, better control, better pretty much everything...people still frequently think of GTA3 as their favorite just because it was that new, shocking, holy crap feeling. Someone who never touched GTA3 but played GTA:SA would be completely puzzled about all the fawning "GTA3 was so great!" talk. Or how we consider atari games classics...have you played them recently? I challenge you to play breakout or pong or pacman for more than 15 minutes.

So yea there is absolutely a bit of a first impression thing. As I said, I didn't like the US version in the first season when it was basically an inadequate retelling of the UK one, but now that it has branched off on it's own, it's easier to consider it as a stand alone program rather than having to constantly stand it up next to the original.

[Parshias]

I'm curious how much of that comes from "well this came first, so it has to be better" line of thinking though. I think they are both great shows, but a lot of people in the US saw the US version first without ever knowing about the British one. I personally think Carrell is hilarious in everything he touches, so I'm a little biased in that respect.

heh, I actually am reading a book that talks about this stuff, how you create an "anchor" (the book is about how we make decisions, but it's rooted in economics so his examples are typically prices for stuff) and how everything after that is judged against this "anchor"- like how people from a low cost of living city who move to a high cost of living city will typically live "worse" because they can't bring themselves to spend more.

Absolutely there is a first seen/inadequate follower effect. Think of like...GTA3 and GTA: San Andreas. Despite the fact that GTA:SA had a bigger map, more stuff to do, better visuals, better control, better pretty much everything...people still frequently think of GTA3 as their favorite just because it was that new, shocking, holy crap feeling. Someone who never touched GTA3 but played GTA:SA would be completely puzzled about all the fawning "GTA3 was so great!" talk. Or how we consider atari games classics...have you played them recently? I challenge you to play breakout or pong or pacman for more than 15 minutes.

So yea there is absolutely a bit of a first impression thing. As I said, I didn't like the US version in the first season when it was basically an inadequate retelling of the UK one, but now that it has branched off on it's own, it's easier to consider it as a stand alone program rather than having to constantly stand it up next to the original.

Final Fantasy 7.

[Trichocyst]

I couldn't help but compare the two when the series started and frankly I feel like Ricky Gervais is a better slimy boss. That's not to say that Steve Carrell hasn't since brought his own brand of insanity to the show because he has, but Gervais really sold the character better. Since then they've gone in such different directions that the Carrell version has become something entirely different. I don't think Gervais could have pulled off the episode where Michael is at the hearing for Jan and essentially tells the truth because somebody else is nice to him.

[Asy]

omg @ jim

I feel like a gitty schoolgirl now

[Weeks]

I couldn't help but compare the two when the series started and frankly I feel like Ricky Gervais is a better slimy boss. That's not to say that Steve Carrell hasn't since brought his own brand of insanity to the show because he has, but Gervais really sold the character better. Since then they've gone in such different directions that the Carrell version has become something entirely different. I don't think Gervais could have pulled off the episode where Michael is at the hearing for Jan and essentially tells the truth because somebody else is nice to him.

I don't think they've ever been playing the same character. Since the US version started, Michael Scott has essentially been a nice guy who's just a little too stupid and self-absorbed to show it. I think that's a better character to build the show around.

And getting back to my earlier comments, I preferred the Jan-Michael dynamic when she was the intelligent businesswoman who should, and actually did, know better, but had the underlying attraction to the good in him. Having her manipulate him and straining their relationship as in The Deposition is fine. They really went overboard in turning them into two people who outright hate each other and let it show in this episode.

[Tyr]

omg @ jim

I feel like a gitty schoolgirl now

seriously...


Hey Pam? Will you...
Wait for me while I tie my shoes?


I went "oh shet!" really loud when he got on one knee. Amazing episode, the writers imo are really playing out the Jim-Pam stuff well. And when he flashed the ring I contributed a "GO JIM!" to the crowd I was watching it with.

[Vandole]

omg @ jim

I feel like a gitty schoolgirl now

seriously...


Hey Pam? Will you...
Wait for me while I tie my shoes?


I went "oh shet!" really loud when he got on one knee. Amazing episode, the writers imo are really playing out the Jim-Pam stuff well. And when he flashed the ring I contributed a "GO JIM!" to the crowd I was watching it with.

i did that... but i was alone

[Vandole]

Pam... i propose to you.... that... this topic gets bumped,

Stanley the manley is going off on micheal. this is win

[Nystul]

overall not my favorite this season, but it was a good episode.

[Asy]

Season finale is called Goodbye, Toby...


Tobyyyyy.... He's one of my fav characters >:

[Fistandantilus]

I loved this episode, but maybe that's just because I love anything Dwight does and I thought his mad-lib was hilarious.

I'll be sad if they get rid of Toby too, I'm hoping it is more of a goodbye for when he's moving but he hates it and comes back or something, I like him a lot and love seeing Micheal's antics every time he has to interact with Toby.

[Asy]

I kinda have a theory about it. The episode Chair Model was originally set to be called Micheal Dating, but they feared it'd give away too much info about Dinner Party. So B.J Novak wanted it changed, along with a few other writers, so I'm hoping this is just a headfake.

Although they are introducing a new H.R rep ;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;

[grantlogan]

The fall of Ryan will be epic. I'm not quite sure what's going on with Toby though. From him feeling up Pam's leg last week to being on Ryan's side with the warning to Jim, seems like he's becoming a douche. Last night's episode was ok, nothing super hilarious comes to mind. Sometimes you need episodes like that for the sake of the season's plot. Oh wait, when Kevin asked Pam to talk like a librarian, that was funny.

[Anyway]

Toby obviously wants to get with Pam, I don't know how you don't see it.

[Keno]

The fall of Ryan will be epic. I'm not quite sure what's going on with Toby though. From him feeling up Pam's leg last week to being on Ryan's side with the warning to Jim, seems like he's becoming a douche. Last night's episode was ok, nothing super hilarious comes to mind. Sometimes you need episodes like that for the sake of the season's plot. Oh wait, when Kevin asked Pam to talk like a librarian, that was funny.

Honestly, if you have been watching this show for a season or more and you don't know that Toby wants Pam...... I don't even know how to properly insult you. How have you not accidentally killed yourself by now?

Also, last night's episode was the funniest they have made in a LONG while.

[grantlogan]

Guess I'll go kill myself now..

[Cephius]

Last night showed what I love about Michael's character, after Stanley yelled at him in the meeting and they talked it over, they showed that maybe he's not the idiot we all think he is and actually maturely told Stanley that he just can't talk that way to him. It's happened sporadically over the last few seasons too, Michael will seem like a complete buffoon most of the time but then he has his moments. I like how they make his character multi-dimensional like that.

Also dwight flipping Andy's car and the resulting mad-lib was hilarious, lol

[Day]

Last night showed what I love about Michael's character, after Stanley yelled at him in the meeting and they talked it over, they showed that maybe he's not the idiot we all think he is and actually maturely told Stanley that he just can't talk that way to him. It's happened sporadically over the last few seasons too, Michael will seem like a complete buffoon most of the time but then he has his moments. I like how they make his character multi-dimensional like that.

Also dwight flipping Andy's car and the resulting mad-lib was hilarious, lol

I agree. It was like the time he went out to lunch with that client and Jan and he pulled off the sale... it's nice when they let you see why he still has his job lol.. I think it's great they give him moments like that.

[Weeks]

Toby has had a thing for Pam for a long time, but the guy couldn't even find the nerve to ask her out when she was single. It actually was surprising how he felt up her leg like that and turned a little more on Jim by getting Ryan involved.

I got a huge kick out of Jim starting to develop a distaste for Toby in the few hours he was taking Michael's place. Jim turning into Michael has been an occasional undercurrent for this season, and I get a feeling that another promotion opportunity is in his future due to Ryan's cocaine problem, so I guess a little more Jim/Toby conflict is in the cards. I don't believe that Toby is really leaving at the end of the season.

[Anyway]

It would be endless amounts of funny if Toby took Ryan's job.