I don’t think this show is going to be on much longer. It’s not that it’s unfunny. It’s just that it heaps on painfully uncomfortable moments and it just doesn’t do it as well as the UK version.
But I feel God in this Chili’s
Funny episode, but I didn’t like the obvious Chili’s corporate disclaimer.
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| Originally Posted by JWinge1, Napoleon in Rags But I feel God in this Chili’s |
Best line of the episode.
Pretty good opener. Will see how the rest of the season stretches out.
I only watched a few eps. last year but DVR is my God now.
I thought it was a good ep. I’m surprised it came back this season as it’s just not something that appeals to the masses.
I would like to thank my Keds.
“Bushiest Beaver” Award.
“We’ll get that fixed.”
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| Originally Posted by Matt Goldberg I don’t think this show is going to be on much longer. It’s not that it’s unfunny. It’s just that it heaps on painfully uncomfortable moments and it just doesn’t do it as well as the UK version. |
I don’t know man. I think it will stay on. NBC needs any show that can generate any kind of buzz, and this show has some buzz behind it. Plus, it’s got Carell, who is turning out to be a somewhat sort of big motion picture star.
All I know is that no one on tv makes me laugh harder than Dwight.
“Kelly, if you tell me, you’ll be punished less.”
Jonvoight stole the line I was going to reference as being the funniest I’ve seen in a sitcom (other than Arrested Development) in quite a while.
I don’t know if it was the deadpan delivery, the way I didn’t see it coming, or Pam’s “now we are laughing at you” reaction, but I guffawed for a good ten to twenty seconds. Also classic: Pam’s being forced to watch the reruns of past award “shows” for highlights.
I hope this show stays on for a while, cuz I’m hooked. Hopefully I can get the Season One DVDs. Any sitcom without a laughtrack already has a leg up in my book. The scene with Carell being derided by the hooligans at the bar and Pam’s reaction to her win was priceless (and demonstrated the range of the cast).
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| Originally Posted by Desslar Funny episode, but I didn’t like the obvious Chili’s corporate disclaimer. |
You mean regarding the “Xeroxed copy of her license” remark? I thought that was one of the funnier lines in the show. Watching Carrell try to rap along to OPP was gold. And the award for smelling the worst in the toilet was pretty funny as well. Sometimes they just nail the corporate-ness of stuff so rock solid, it’s unbelievable. I’ve been to a few of those “award” ceremonies at a local restaurant before, and they are definitely that boring until everyone gets drunk.
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| Originally Posted by Kevin Matchstick I don’t know man. I think it will stay on. NBC needs any show that can generate any kind of buzz, and this show has some buzz behind it. Plus, it’s got Carell, who is turning out to be a somewhat sort of big motion picture star. |
Im in complete agreement with you.
Ongoing Positive buzz + movie star = never ever being canceled.
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| Originally Posted by Martianman You mean regarding the “Xeroxed copy of her license” remark? I thought that was one of the funnier lines in the show. |
Eh, I don’t find corporate PR particularly amusing. According to Carell Chili’s demanded that statement be added. What a bunch of tightasses.
I thought this was a very entertaining episode. Carrell really carries the show though. Whatever the Gareth clone’s name is just doesnt do anything for me. In the brit version, Gareth was consistently on par and sometimes stealing laughs from Brent. In the US version, he just seems very forced.
“Bushiest Beaver”…that was great.
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| Originally Posted by Fazer Whatever the Gareth clone’s name is just doesnt do anything for me. In the brit version, Gareth was consistently on par and sometimes stealing laughs from Brent. In the US version, he just seems very forced. . |
I agree. He’s not believable at all. The bit about the bathroom was sort of funny though.
It might be that I finally saw the British version over the summer, but this show is less funny all of a sudden. I’m not sure if there was an actual drop in quality in the season opener, or if it’s just that the characters pale in comparison to the original characters.
Pam is probably the only wash, as far as the main characters go (and Dawn was never one of the biggest laugh-getters, anyway). The rest of the cast doesn’t quite measure up, though Carrell does a nice alternate take on the boss - he’s not even attempting to be David Brent, which is good. The most serious flaw is that Tim is a far more likeable lead than his American counterpart. This guy’s harder to relate to.
I liked the bit where Pam came back and Carell was doing his very offensive Ping character.
No one is going to like this show if they consistently compare it to the British version.
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| Originally Posted by Rene A. Moncivais No one is going to like this show if they consistently compare it to the British version. |
If it can’t be as good as or if it’s not significantly different enough from the original to not inspire comparison, why make it at all? Considering the one-to-one character counterparts, this show is begging for comparison. Since Carrell made the move of distancing himself from Gervais by further de-humanizing the boss character so that he’s not even vaguely sympathetic, the writers for the U.S. version would do well to make their other lead a little more likeable to make up for this hole. Instead, he’s actually less likeable than the British show’s Tim.
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| Originally Posted by DaveB the writers for the U.S. version would do well to make their other lead a little more likeable to make up for this hole. Instead, he’s actually less likeable than the British show’s Tim. |
I think his antics at Chili’s is the step in the right direction. Especially when it took a drunk Pam to bring some emotion out of the guy.
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| Originally Posted by DaveB If it can’t be as good as or if it’s not significantly different enough from the original to not inspire comparison, why make it at all? Considering the one-to-one character counterparts, this show is begging for comparison. Since Carrell made the move of distancing himself from Gervais by further de-humanizing the boss character so that he’s not even vaguely sympathetic, the writers for the U.S. version would do well to make their other lead a little more likeable to make up for this hole. Instead, he’s actually less likeable than the British show’s Tim. |
I would venture a guess that most of the people who watch NBC on a Tuesday night have never seen the British show. Of those who have, few, if any, would say the US version is better. But it’s a great concept for a show. It’s refreshing to see humor like this during primetime on a major US network. They have attempted to put an American twist on their version and I hope they go their own way with the show as the season progresses.
Carrell’s delivery of “boner” was pretty much the funniest thing I’ve seen all year.
And Koechner! How can you not love this show?