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September 21, 2006
Another day at the office, but four different ways
Are you awaiting the season premiere of NBC's The Office tonight? Steve Carrell is cringe-inducingly brilliant as the socially inept boss Michael, and the folks who work for him at Dunder Mifflin are familiar to everyone who has worked in an American office.
There was much discussion about whether this remake of the British series of the same name could possible do justice to its dyspeptic view of the workplace, but, with the assistance of the creator and star Ricky Gervais, the NBC series has surpassed the original -- at least in the opinion of some viewers.
Building on their success, the series has been remade in two other versions, one in France, and the other in Germany, after the Brit version bombed -- er -- failed to tickle the Frogs' funny bone, and couldn't find the Kraut one. According to an article at Slate, the four shows reveal much about what's similar -- and what's very different -- about work and humor in the countries.
Watching all four versions back-to-back is not only a strangely unmooring experience—like seeing the film Groundhog Day over and over—it's a crash course in national identity. And if any conjecture could be made about the cultural differences that these subtly contrasting programs reveal, it might be this one: These days, Germans and Americans are doing much of their living in and around their offices, while the Brits and French continue to live outside of them.
Here, in broad strokes, are the chief differences. In the British version, nobody is working, nobody has a happy relationship, everyone looks terrible, and everybody is depressed.
In the French version, nobody is working but even the idiots look good, and everybody seems possessed of an intriguing private life.
In the German version, actual work is visibly being done, most of the staff is coupled up, and the workers never stop eating and drinking—treating the office like a kitchen with desks. Stromberg continually calls his staff "Kinder," or "children," further blurring the line between Kinder, Computer, and Küche.
I'm fascinated by the idea that our culture separates us from other peoples, that the day-to-day grind of work and life is so different -- in ways subtle and not -- that what is funny to Brits leaves the French and Germans cold, while many Yanks are mystified by the alleged humor of Monty Python and Black Adder (Not me; I'd kill for more seasons of Rowan Atkinson and a pre-House Hugh Laurie teaming up with Baldrick.)
It's a reminder that as much as some we-are-the-world types like to claim we're all the same, the reality is that when it comes to humor, we're very, very different.
How different? The French think Jerry Lewis is a genius.
If you like any version of The Office, check out the rest of the Slate article.
And don't forget, the season premiere is at 8:30 tonight.
Posted by Mike Lief at September 21, 2006 12:31 AM
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Comments
I plan to watch, everyone says great things about The Office. Interesting, all the differences country to country.
I never liked Jerry Lewis and couldn't understood the French thing. But then I caught him in that Fountainbleau movie playing on some channel. Then I got it. Very funny guy. Probably in small doses though. He was also fantastic in The King of Comedy, but mostly playing himself.
Posted by: Vermont Neighbor at September 21, 2006 04:55 PM
If you can, rent the first two seasons (they're short) and TiVo tonight's episode -- or you can tape it, if you're old school like me.
Jerry Lewis? I liked him when he was teamed up with Dean Martin, but never really enjoyed him in anything without his suave partner.
Posted by: Mike Lief at September 21, 2006 07:02 PM
I think The Office jumped the shark last night. A little over the top for me.
Posted by: Thin Ice at September 22, 2006 10:40 AM
I'll probably start by picking up the first two seasons; I like that consistency. Also, I don't own a TiVo and can barely operate a light switch.
I'm kind of a freak and would rather sample the start of a commercial break, see what the big guns are trying to sell and then take the 5-6 minutes to slam-load the dishwasher. Okay, so yeah. I don't mind commercial breaks! They capture a lot of what's going on in the world if you choose to look at them that way.
And I love Crazy Gideon. As much as any scripted show, that guy is whack!!
Posted by: Vermont Neighbor at September 26, 2006 02:42 PM