Tara Albrecht

MDST 2001-001
Professor McLean
September 14, 2015
Critical Analysis #1
The Office was a television show that debuted on BBC in the UK in 2001. It ran
for two seasons, then lay dormant for two years before being picked up by NBC in
America (IMDb, 2001). It ran in America for nine seasons, starting where the UK version
did at its beginning (IMDb, 2005). Both versions of The Office are a documentary series
that follows around the employees in an office setting, as they are at risk of downsizing.
They also include interviews with the characters in the show, discussing their opinions on
things happening in the office. The Office US and The Office UK have striking
similarities, yet many differences.
Both series have the same story line with the same basic characters. Although the
characters follow the same placements in the office, they have unique names and
backstories. These backstories play a large role into the personalities of the characters. In
the pilot episode, most scenes in the US version are directly exported from the UK
version. The transcript includes the exact same scenes and words, minus cultural
differences. In order to understand what the UK characters were saying, I had to use
subtitles. Both series are a comedic commentary on our perceptions of a traditional office
setting. They aim to capture a young audience of business professionals, and provide a
satirical form of their everyday lives. The series split their time between following the
everyday routines in the office and interviewing characters. Despite the many similarities
in The Office UK and The Office US, they are riddled with differences.

The Office UK has a very dry sense of humor. This version aims to show what it is
like to work for an unruly boss. David is the regional manager in the UK version. His
jokes usually come off as being funny, yet he seems like a stubborn and immovable
individual. The assistant to the regional manager, Gareth, seem spacy and strange. David
and Gareths relationship seems almost mean, as David is ruthless when it comes to
Gareth. The comedy in this version is much more subtle, and is difficult to pick up on.
The UK audience appreciates a more straightforward show, with more realism in their
office.
The Office US shares characters with the UK version, yet it develops them further.
The UK version only ran for two seasons, while the US version ran for nine. Because of
the extra time given to the US version, they are able to develop their characters and their
backstories more fully. The regional manager in the US version, Michael Scott, is a
clueless man. His behavior is often comedic, but is likable because he often doesnt
intend for it to be funny. Michaels relationship with the assistant to the regional manager,
Dwight Schrute, is comedic in this version. The comedy included in the US version is
more robust than its UK counterpart. It is not hidden in conversations, but rather is stated
bluntly. The United States audience enjoys this comedy, because we dont like to think
very hard while engaging in our recreational activities. This desire for laziness translates
into The Office US being very extreme and explicit. This version of The Office looks at
the comedies that happen in an office setting, but places a large amount of importance on
the conflicts between competing personalities in the office. Not only are its characters
more likable, but also more relatable. It is easier for viewers to identify a character from

the show and who they align with in their office, making the show a comedic
commentary on their everyday encounters with the business world.
The Office US seems as if product placements are a main source of revenue for
the show. They often mention large corporations like Staples, Sandals, Hooters, Cisco,
and Chilis. At any place in the show where it might be acceptable to mention one of
these companies, they are featured. The UK version does not seem to feature any product
placements, which may say something about the difference between the cultural
acceptance of product placements in media.
In addition, The Office US seems to be in a brighter setting. Both series take place
in the office of a paper company, but the settings themselves seem rather different. The
Office UK has a much larger office, but its colors are boring, and the company seems as if
it is full of mediocre workers. The work seems monotonous, and the characters somewhat
disinterested. In The Office US, the office seems smaller, but the workers are more close
knit. They enjoy their time in the office and the banter that it brings between them. The
office itself is brighter, and fosters a more community setting. This may be a commentary
on the physical office space differences between the US and the UK. The United States
appreciates more teamwork and cooperative work, while the United Kingdom appreciates
the ability of the individuals to perform on their own.
The show itself was more popular in the US than it was in the UK. The UK
version ran for two seasons before being canceled due to disinterested actors. Ricky
Gervais, the regional manager in the UK version, left the show after the second season,
ending its air on TV. When even the characters are disinterested in the subject matter of
their own television shows, it is difficult to keep viewers engaged. The US version ran for

nine seasons before being canceled. Steve Carell, the regional manager in the US version,
left the show halfway through. The writers attempted to keep the show going in his
absence, with much dismay to viewers. In the UK, they value television that is engaging
for their viewers. For this reason, they often end shows while they are still popular to
preserve the perception of the show in the viewers minds. In the US, we value television
that brings in a profit. For this reason, we often drag television shows on longer than
people are interested in them. Eventually, viewers begin to see these shows in a negative
light, because of the United States greed when it comes to revenue from TV shows.
The Office US represents cultural hybridity between the American and British
cultures. The Office US took what was popular from The Office UK and adapted it for
American audiences. Even The Office US has many British themes, and acknowledges its
roots in British culture. However, they have made many adjustments to make it more
suitable for the viewers in the United States. They changed the style of comedy to match
what is enjoyed in the US, and altered the characters to make them more relatable to the
US audience. This represents the fundamental differences between television shows in
the United States and the United Kingdom, and the attitudes of the audiences towards the
media that is available to them. The United Kingdom values short but interesting TV
shows, where the United States values a TV show as long as it will bring them revenue.
This often leads to a few action-packed seasons in a UK version, and many more drawn
out seasons in the US version. The Office is just one example of how the United States
draws upon the United Kingdom for media influence. This idea is thought provoking, as
the US gained its independence from the UK. Regardless of their independence, there are

still many cultural similarities, which is evident in the relationship between The Office
US and The Office UK.

References
IMDb. (2001). The Office. Internet Movie Database. Retrieved from
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0290978/

IMDb. (2005). The Office. Internet Movie Database. Retrieved from

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0386676/?ref_=ttep_ep_tt