I lent my copy of the British Office to my friend while she was on bedrest in the weeks before her twins were born last year. I lent it with a bunch of other stuff thinking she wouldn't really end up watching it because she doesn't ever watch sitcoms and she doesn't even work in a normal office setting. Also, I figured if she did watch it she wouldn't really love it as much as I did because she actively LOATHES romantic comedies. But she called me in tears after getting to the end of the Christmas special and was like, "Is this a normal reaction or am I crying like this because of the pregnancy hormones? Is TV supposed to do this to you??!"

I have to get my hands on the British Office now that I've fallen for the American version.

I think Carell is ridiculously gifted, but I think the directors and editors are way too in love with him

I agree with this, and, at the same time, I suffer from the same affliction.

That said, I can see why for a long-running series, you'd want your characters a little softer and more likable, so I do cut the series a lot of slack. But even when I'm really enjoying an episode, I can't get the feeling out of my head that they're all being way too nice.

Except for Packer! If he ever does anything remotely redeeming I think I will have to spit at the TV. That actor plays such a good ass. Or plays such an ass really well, I guess. (I'm not actually arguing with your point, even though it sounds like I'm doing that thing we do where we point out the one exception to every... thing anyone says. No, I'm doing that over-explainy thing we do.)

I'm not actually arguing with your point, even though it sounds like I'm doing that thing we do where we point out the one exception to every... thing anyone says. No, I'm doing that over-explainy thing we do.

t hearts Jen

I cry every time I watch the Christmas Special. Hell, I get misty-eyed just thinking about it.

Me, too. That's some great television.

Actually, though compared to say, MTM(which I totally love, make no mistake--much Mary & Rhoda love here...I just never believed in those episodes where Ted's a jerk because his mother is critical or his brother's a big success...) Which is to say, I found The office's "redeeming" moments to be more small and natural. But I second Jessica's Packer sentiment, not least because I loved Jim's line read on "Who has two thumbs and hates Todd Packer? *This* guy." And Jessica, I think that's why the American AbFab never worked. Patsy and Edina are always supposed to be hipster bitches.

I really don't think you can compare them very well. I read a fantastic article a couple months ago (for which, of course, I memfault on the author, title, and publication of the thing) that compared the British, American, German and French versions of the office, and how the storylines had changed to reflect the culture. Like, in the American one they've protracted the Jim/Pam relationship, where in the British one they got dude and Dawn together in a reasonable amount of time. In the French version they were screwing practically the whole time. In the German version it wasn't nearly the big romantic thing as in the British and UK versions.

So I think in a fundamental way, though they are around the same themes and utilize similar characters, they're distinct from one another because at the core they're meant to reflect the work culture of the, um, culture.

I, also, weep like a lovelorn spinster when I watch the Xmas Special. I, also, grow grey and misty-eyed when thinking on it.

I cry every time I watch the Christmas Special. Hell, I get misty-eyed just thinking about it.

Seriously! I just watched just the end of it in a clip on youtube the other day and I was a mess!

When I watched it with my old roommate after we had watched the whole season together, her for the first time me for the second, she was so angry when Dawn walked out with (umm....totally blanking on his name...) fiance. I handed her over a box of tissues and she said she wouldn't need them. She was so pissed off that the series would end like that!

Of course, as soon as Dawn opened the present in the cab she started weepin' like a baby!

And I'm getting all misty right now thinking about it!

t sob

ETA: I guess that's where the US Office falls down for me. There was such heart in the British version and in the (admittedly few) eps I've seen of the US version, that's missing. Also, there just is no substitute for Ricky Gervais.